Always More Than One Way to Look at Something

Recently my mom stayed with me for a couple of weeks and during her time with me she was finalizing a real estate purchase and getting her home listed for sale.  The day that she listed her home, she received a less than full price offer. The offer was not great, but it wasn't horrible either and so my mom and her realtor friend attempted face-time calls to go over details. Let's just say that technology and two folks over 70 was not smooth sailing. After each of three phone calls it was clear that there was stress enough for days. So I decided to intervene with some unsolicited advice...since she was my mom and she was stuck with me.

Me:  Mom, would you like me to tell you how I would handle this? I'm not saying what you are doing is wrong, but I'm all about no stress and it sure seems like you were both stressed on those phone calls.

Mom: Oh my God, YES!

Me: So how many more of those kinds of phone calls do you want to take?

Mom: (laughing) I see your point.

Me: You were expecting a lot less than what you listed the place for and it was within three thousand dollars.....been me I would have accepted it and been done. Zero stress. Again, I'm not saying what you are doing is wrong, I just wanted you to see it in a different way because there's always more than one way to look at something.

So transition that to the pandemic. I support that our governor closed down the state and while many people I know have been significantly impacted financially, myself included, I still think it was the right decision. I also think it was because of the severity our statewide shutdown, that Kentucky is one of two states that has actually met the criteria to open back up reasonably safely. Was this plan executed perfectly? No. Did it suck? Yes.....or at least sometimes.

And what I mean by sometimes is....

Outside my maternity leave, this is the longest I have ever been off work. After getting over the initial shock and  fear of losing my business and going bankrupt or possibly contracting a killer virus, I began to really enjoy my time in quarantine. Did I still have moments of freaking out and wondering if my career was done, would the unemployment check come, would I die alone? Yes.  But I also knocked off some items on my To Do List. I spent quality time with my family. I've had some terrific bird-watching opportunities. I caught a squirrel. I have baked, cooked, grilled and feasted like a queen. My blood pressure was 112/60 at my annual exam. I've binged on some awesome shows. I've read some good books. Re-watched and shared some of my favorite movies with my mom. I have enjoyed not wearing a bra. I've enjoyed living in my pajamas and sometimes only bathing every other day. I have embraced my inner dude and I liked it man.

But.....

I miss going to Texas Roadhouse every Friday night and sitting at the bar, having a steak dinner with my buddy. I miss being Norm and Cliff. I miss shopping at stores that are not Walmart, Meijer or Target.  I miss playing corn-hole. I miss hiking and playing trivia and dinner in sit-down restaurants. I miss big family dinners and cookouts. I miss my clients and our conversations. I miss my hairdresser, massage therapist/cosmetologist and manicures.

But....

I know the sacrifices I have made was for the greater good. I am wearing a mask for the same reason. Does the mask feel like it suffocates me and overheats me? Sometimes, but this is the new norm. So rather than hating on the mask I have decided to love it. I feel like a proper ninja some days and other days I fancy myself a Viking or pirate....because there's always more than one way to look at things.