Be Kind
Today’s message is to take a minute to be kind to others and also to be kind to yourself.
All of us are at different phases of acceptance of what this new normal looks like. Today (March 23, 2020) Massachusetts Governor Baker announced a stay-at-home order as of noon March 24 through noon April 7, 2020. Still to be clarified where real estate falls in the list, but at least we have a start on what is and is not an essential business.
And yes, it is okay to have feelings of stress, fear and anxiety. Everyone feels it and everyone reacts to these feelings differently, with different intensity and for a different length of time. If you feel you are spiraling, please take a breath and remember things are different and it is OK to not know how to feel. Try to focus on the activities that move you into a better mental place. Look at your emerging new schedule and see if there are any opportunities to recapture some quality time for you or your family. For example if you are not commuting 1-2 hours per day to the office, how could you spend that time with something that brings you joy?
This may sound weird but after a week of feeling very unsettled, I am more or less OK right now. I still have underlying stressful feelings, but I’m adding in things that can create joy for me and taking actions that reduce the unspecified anxiety. This feel like the I did post-9/11 when society went on “Pause” and the already fragile economy took a hit. I was able to channel my nervous energy into my home and self. I took did some on some inexpensive home improvements, a lot of organizing and painting. I gardened. I walked. I spent time with friends and family. I meditated and took time for myself.
As of today I am splitting my time between real estate and reaching out to clients and colleagues and then taking a bit of extra time for myself with walking, de-cluttering, organizing, mediating, embracing my hobbies. And finally taking time to remember that those around me might be more stressed and expressing fear. So take time to be kind to them.
What are you to doing to be kind to yourself and others?
Stay safe and stay well.
