Keeping Safe, Staying Safe - Mask it!

 I can't wait to rip this mask off --- finally!

But it doesn't look like that will be anytime soon. 

Now, when frustration is peaking and the urge to just be normal again surges this is the time to stay strong... and masked. 

It would be so easy to just stop the mask stuff and walk around free as a bird but I think this would invite Covid to spread more. Endangering ourselves or others. 

Such a creepy horrible germ. 

I keep going back to the fact that in 1918 they got through the pandemic with half the medical science we have now. They wrapped rags around their faces (hey! at least we have these fancy prints to wear on our face) and had very  little medication to deal with it. And they got through it. 

What happened after the pandemic faded away? Ha! The ROARING TWENTIES!

Wo0t! 

So there is something to look forward to at the end of all this craziness. We'll be able to ROAR once again. Fun times will come back. We just have to stay strong and stay masked for ourselves and for each other. Do it for your family, your neighbors & maybe someone's grandma. 

Scary side of Business in Covid-land

Starting a business at age 60 is risky but what the heck! Let's go for it....
No joke, it was a struggle. Slow slow start, working to bring people in and have happy customers at our little art studio. Very slow take off, barely to cruise... and then...

COVID-19 smacks us right between the eyes. Closed down for 2 full months. No money in and still money goes out to maintain our space. Our savings is draining away. We are constantly asking if we should throw in the towel or keep fighting. There are no answers. Covid-land doesn't let us see through to the other side.  It's not like a hurricane where you take the hit, clean it up and move on. Some say this could last another year. Can we?

So, how to keep from spiraling down into a deep funk? I concentrate on the things I can control.
We're open again but business is super slow. We are not making our rent. We applied for a grant and got it. Okay, this month we're paying rent. Worry about next month then. I often go from freaking out, to crying, to anger. When I walk the dog I talk to myself. It helps me work through the myriad of feelings coursing through me every day. Then I recite a mantra of wishes but I speak as if they're all ready here. I learned that from the Law of Attraction. It's part of my plan to retain my sanity during crazyland.

In the mean time we're trying to come up with ways our customers can get the same great experience we offer in our art studio at home. Don't want to risk going out? Let me see what I can do for you. (and make $$ to pay the bills)

It's a daily struggle. When I'm ready to splash down into a puddle of misery I stop and think, "What else is out there? What else can I do to bring $$ in?"

Luckily I know a great group of business owners who brainstorm together. Are all our ideas great? No, but some have possibilities. Success will come. I will it to happen.  We all know, Success comes but it has to find you working.

I think of that fish, Dori; Keep on Swimming, Keep on Swimming....

Stay at Home & Depression

Most people get depressed at one time or another in their lives. I used to get it all the time due to a medical issue (hypothyroid & Pernicious anemia) but mostly I'm okay now.
Mostly.
Our house is smallish, but we were looking for another place. Then this virus put the brakes on everything. My business, my house hunting, my life. One thing it did start up again was that old familiar depression. It's not bad, just frustrating. Being stuck in the house feels like the place is shrinking. I imagine the walls closing in. For someone who battles depression on a long term and daily basis I could imagine this period in time could seem unbearable.

Know anyone who battles depression? It's time to check in on them.

And breathe....

We all need to just relax and breathe. Someday we'll be on the other side of this and that's where we need to focus.

The surest way to get out of a hole is to have a dream. That thing you want to do, places you want to go, and thing you've dreamed of creating. No matter how big or small your dream, there there steps you can do now to move you toward that goal.

Today I will trim the tree in the back yard that blocks the light.
Today I will paint a picture.
Today I will sew some masks.
Today I will write a newsletter for my biz.
Today I will....

What will you do today? Make a list no matter how big or small the tasks. Make that list and get stuff done.

And call that friend...