Today's Writing Prompt

 Today is December 11, 2020

The Writing Prompt for today is;  New life, new challenges 

Journal Prompts & Peace of Mind

 Are we all a bit Covid Crazy right now? Normally I like putting the news on while I'm in the house but not actually watching TV. I just let it be background noise while I'm doing other things. Lately - not so much. All I see is the numbers of Covid cases or deaths climbing and that's so frightening. Then instead of our government offering thoughtful and proactive care all we see is them sniping at each other over who has the best plan. Here's a plan; help the average American. Help those who are struggling to hold onto their homes. Or those whose loved ones are sick and now have unexpected medical/funeral expenses. Small business relief? No. Instead let's waste taxpayer monies trying to trash our elections. Sheesh! 

So when all that crap is on TV I've been rewatching Gracie and Frankie reruns. Lighthearted fun with a few snafu's thrown in to keep it interesting. Great show. 

I've been thinking a lot about journaling. In New Jersey I belonged to a great woman's writing group where we'd pick a subject each week and write for 20 mins then read it back to each other. It was a great out pouring of thoughts, feelings and sometimes fears. I loved every woman in that group and miss them terribly. 

I was thinking of starting a woman's writing group here but then Covid smashed that idea. Stupid Covid! 

So now I'm going to do a writing prompt each day for the rest of December - after that we'll see where we are. 

What is a writing prompt? It's usually a phrase or sentence that will get you thinking. It came be a simple as "Roses bloom in spring" or as complex as "What I thought my life should be by now." Then with that thought in your head & heart you just write. No judgement. It's your thoughts and no one should have a say in them. 

Writing tools? Best way to do this is to get yourself a book to journal in. Being a love of words I have quite a few. These can be those pretty little book you can get in Michaels, Barnes & Nobel, or Walmart. Or just a note pad you have laying around the house. Wanna do it on your computer? Fine, doesn't matter where you write as a long as you write. I splurge on gel pens for that smooth feel. 

Are you ready to join the December Writing prompts? 

Feel free to post your writing in the comments below or just keep them close to your heart. 

Today's prompt:   The road not taken. 

Write on my friends. Stop by tomorrow for a new prompt.

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....

Managing a Business in Covid-land

Our county is slowly opening. Parking lots are seeing a little more action, some businesses now have their lights on, and there are more people out and about. 

One of the saddest things was those empty parking lots. It's good to see the cars back in line and people going shopping again. 

Our studio still is not allowed to open. The county we live in is being overly cautious. I go from "I got to get this business open again!" to "No, let's stay home and stay safe." 

I wonder if we're opening up too soon, will we have a spike that will make everything worse all over again. I wonder if we're being all too careful and making too big a thing about this. I wonder if its worth the chance. 

In all my 62 years I have never seen anything like this before. Most things don't scare me. Mostly I think, "Don't worry until there's something to worry about."  Now we have this virus that seems to be spreading before symptoms show. Creepy. 

The thing that drove home the urgency of this virus and brought my age to the forefront was my kids. They both said since we're in our sixties, we're high risk. Wow, never thought of my age as a factor in anything before....well, except maybe for that Michael's discount.  

Our business is closed and suffering and we're trying to hold it together. Taking it month by month and hoping we can carry on. I love my business. I feel this is something I waited for my whole life. It's a chance to share my passion for art with people. Now it's on the line and we have to make some decisions. Big decisions. Right now we're closed till June. After Memorial Day we have to make a choice. Do we open for business? Can we? That is, if the county/state lets us. 

Yet, tomorrow is another day (Scarlet O'Hara) and all we can do at this point is take it day by day. Something I feel we've been doing since this all started. There are days when I look out the front door.... then go look out the back door. Then go back to the front door and look out again. I don't know what I'm looking for, what I expect to see in this quiet neighborhood, but tomorrow I'll be at those windows again, looking out at the world and maybe saying a prayer. 

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...

Stay at Home!

State lock down! We're ordered by the state to Stay at Home and that's okay. This is slowing that curve in many parts of the country so, as hard as it can be, it's working.

My small business is suffering and we're hoping to survive. I love my studio and miss the people who came in every week. We had regulars whom we loved. We shared their birthdays, their joys, and listened to their problems. It was like an extended family.

Now I worry about them. I hope they all stay healthy and we see them on the other side of all this craziness.

With time on our hands, all the time in the world to do whatever we want ... at home. What do we do? I've watched way too much TV. Attempted to work on a new book. Done some closet reorganizing, cleaning, laundry and I'm bored.

Cabin fever is real. I find myself staring out the front window. I miss chatting with the neighbors. I wander the rooms thinking, what can I do in here?
I'm snacking way to much.

So what do we do about cabin fever?
I'm thinking of writing down a schedule.
Like from 10 am to noon create art.
From noon to 1 lunch hour,
from 1 pm to 2 write,
from 2-4 household stuff...
and on and on.

So what's your Cabin Fever cures? All ideas welcome!

Quarentined in your 60's

We're not in lock down yet in our town but it's coming. Mayors are talking about it on TV and, of course, rumors are flying.  But that's okay. I'm 63 now and it's probably time to go into hiding.

Biggest issue? I'm a small business owner and this shut down might put me out of business permanently.  Yes, I've cried. For my business that I love, for the customers who were regulars and I consider friends and for the uncertainty of our future. Like many other small business people, we have almost everything invested in our business.

So after the tears I said to myself, "You're an entrepenure, damn it, Act like it!"
We're using these last few days before we're sure to get locked down selling take home kits. We have so much bleach and hand sanitizer on our hands they have a permanent odor. Is bleach the new perfume of the 20's? Could be.

So, I have plans for the lockdown.

• Clean out those closets I've been meaning to get to
• Plant a garden
• Write another book 
• Write more blogs
• Walk the dog
• Spend time with the husband (ok, that's not really a choice)
• Movie marathon time
• Paint a room
• Rearrange the furniture (maybe more than once)
• Brainstorm how to save my business

If you're locked down, how are you spending your time? Any creative ideas?