As fall comes in like a cold breeze whistling through the trees and we bid the warm summer days adieu, I tend to get sappy, long-winded, and super introspective. Sooo buckle up peeps!

There is no doubt that Covid has made us reflect, right? Here we are almost 7 months to the day when a lot of towns and cities in the US shut their proverbial doors to the outside world. Remember the panic in the beginning? I waited in line to get groceries that first night (sans mask) for two hours jammed in with a million other people and next to a young 20 year old that tic-toc-ed the whole drawn out experience right before my very eyes. I basically had a box of rice, a can of beans, a medley of frozen vegetables, a tub of Bitchin’ Sauce (which I would later declare one of the best discoveries of Covid) and maybe some oat milk. There were no paper towels or toilet paper to be had. We ALL have this story or something similar, right? Kind of like the day of 911. This historic moment will be forever etched in our minds.

And let’s talk for a minute about the stages of Covid. First was the shock. Then reaction. Then Frustration. Then rollercoaster emotions. The losses. The mourning of the people that were losing their lives, the loss of our old lives, the mourning of a new normal.

The highs/lows of Covid have been, dare I say, A WILD RIDE. But then again, we all went through it together. There was so much sanity/comfort in the “together but apart” mantra and we all felt it. Our Zoom calls were at an all-time high - the novelty of grabbing drinks with our friends digitally was so “cool” and “progressive”. The connectivity was what got us through, despite the distance that might have existed. And that distance brought us closer. It may have even reconnected us with long lost friends. For me, it brought some very near/dear people back into my life. Karen, one of my favorite, most positive, most amazingly talented friends who lives in Denver. During the height of Covid I got to see her once a week for a virtual Barre class. She made me sweat my butt off and sometimes I cursed at her through the computer, but the beauty lies in the fact that I got to see her every week. Guaranteed. It has forced us to be more thoughtful in our connections and I think that’s some serious silver lining shit.

Even as I sit here and type, the word “Pause” keeps entering my mind. We were all forced to just hit the pause button on our lives. And I don’t know about you, but I NEEDED it. Before Covid hit the energy in the world felt ripe for change, like something pivotal was coming, but none of us knew exactly in what form it would take on.

This change has given us our lives back in some ways….no commute times means longer evening walks with family, saying hello to neighbors you might not have acknowledged before, adopting that long desired dog, making thoughtful dinners and actually sitting down to eat them face to face, zooming with moms, dads, grandparents. And the list goes on.

And so, as we watch Fall drop its leaves on our head and we enter more uncertain times, I think it’s important for us to remember the following…

…. Pause and breathe

….Allow this time to give ourselves perspective by reflecting on the good, bad, and ugly without judgement

….Take the walk! It feels so good to reconnect with ourselves, our loved ones, and nature

….Smell the roses, quite literally. Look around - this time has given us the power to take a beat…. so take it!

And these Positive Affirmations….

…. I will grant myself and others grace.

….I will grant myself and others space

….I will grant myself and others compassion

…. I will grant myself and others kindness

… I will grant myself and others the ability to reflect and pause.

….I will grant myself the ability to be comfortable in the moment

Let’s put these on repeat.

With much love, respect, and grace,

kiki

lillian and alice