This Is The Beginning Of Anything You Want

My hands are cracked similar to an earthquake tearing up the earth. The endless sanitizer and dryness from hand washing creeps into the crevices of my skin as I disinfect surfaces, hands, doorknobs, etc. again and again. Our world has thrown us a curveball, it has shut down to heal. This Covid-19 virus has truly impacted all of us worldwide. My mind sweeps me away to places of concern, worry, unknowns until I catch myself and pull myself back. I guide myself back to the place where I want to be, a place of strength, Faith, and hope. A place of knowing that we have now been given what we always wanted, time. What will we do with it?

Imagine if our world used this time not only to heal mother nature and the ones who are sick, but all of us who have been saying “someday” for so long. What if someday finally came?

I will not waste it by wallowing or hiding in fear. Instead, I will work on myself to make me a better leader, wife, mother, sister, daughter….human. My time will be used to build up my own strength both physically and mentally. It will be used to build up my children in order to teach them to rise up again and again. It will be used to work on ways I can help other people build themselves up.

If you are at home, look around. Who is there? Those are the people who will be there for you always. Use their love to inspire you to do something for yourself, to model for them, and to fulfill your promise to yourself. If you are alone, look in the mirror. You are strong and this will make you stronger. Connect with the people you love on Zoom or Facetime and get the fuel you need from them to rise up. Now what is the next right step for you with all of this time? This could be the beginning of anything you want.

Fill your days with working on your passions along with your every day duties whether that be a job that you are now working from home or taking care of yourself or your family. This time is also for us to heal and grow. This is the time that you can finally work on fulfilling the promise that you always made to yourself about “someday.” Someday is now. This is the time to work on your passions. This will give you energy and hope that we all really need in these uncertain times. If you have lost your job because of the pandemic, this is the time to figure it out. This will be extra difficult but you are worth it. Don’t lay down and take it. Use the time that you have to figure out the next step and then the next. Have hope that this is a very hard season and seasons always pass.

Your passion is that big dream that you have always had. For some, it might be writing a book, getting in shape, developing a morning routine, learning a second language, taking a course, starting up a business, etc. Your passion is that nagging feeling in the basement of your mind that constantly surfaces but is often stifled with excuses. That feeling is there for a reason. It is there because it is what you really want for yourself but you told yourself you never really had the time. Well, time is here. The world has been waiting for your passion. You will probably tell yourself that it has been done before. You are wrong. It may have been done before but it hasn’t been done by you. For example, we all have our favourite line of clothing or restaurant, even though there are thousands of restaurants or clothing designers. Yet, we choose one that stands out, that we always go to. Someone’s passion spoke to what you needed and that can happen for you too. Your passion will speak to someone or many in this world. Don’t let that feeling be smothered again. Why wouldn’t we do that for ourselves? Wouldn’t this light our hearts on fire? Wouldn’t this show our children how to work hard for something that we really wanted? Wouldn’t this show them how to develop a plan, make a routine, and work towards it every single day? Wouldn’t this make you happy? Time is here and this is the beginning of anything you want.

That nagging feeling that I have always had tugging at my heart is to write a book but it was also to teach my kids about taking care of their minds and control of their life at a young age. If only I knew all of this at their age! So I am doing both with the time that I have. I am grateful that I still have my job in this shaky time (my job is another passion of mine). However, I needed to work around my hours of work. I developed a morning routine, where I could work on my writing before work. I have included my example of how I used my time at the end of this soapbox rant. I always wanted my kids to see my morning routine but they were always sleeping. So I make sure I tell them and teach them about it every day. I read them excerpts of articles, I model it with them at night, and I talk about it again and again. Now that they are home, they have time to develop their own routines. Because I have taught them about it already, routine and schedules are paramount and so they work at it. Of course, they gripe about it along the way. I have also included an example of our daily routine below that the kids do now that they are unable to attend school due to the Covid-19 virus. I believe that teaching them the importance of learning, reading, writing to get their thoughts out, time management, and exercise is so key to their overall happiness and fulfillment. I know this because I need this too. There is no magic pill. We have to do the work of working on ourselves and we have to do it every day. The result is energy, joy, strength, and the ability to rise up again and again. Isn’t that worth it to ourselves and to teach our kids? What would this world be like if we all started to take care of our minds and bodies in order to do the best work we have ever done all while living the best life?

Want proof? I have proof. This virus pandemic could have crippled me if it had hit a couple of years ago. My beautiful mama passed away of the H1N1 virus very unexpectedly and I swear I still have PTSD from this experience. I know how serious this world is taking this and I am so grateful for that. In the past, before I did the work on myself and worked on my passion, anxiety and thoughts that we will all get sick would have flooded my mind. I would have scared and stressed my whole family out in the process. Our home would have been filled with fear, my night terrors of what I experienced with my mom would continue, and I would have taken it out on everyone I loved. My own mental health, along with my entire family’s would have plummeted because I transferred that negative energy to them. This was not what my mom would have wanted me to take from this traumatic experience. She would have wanted me to grow from it, learn from it, and be stronger because of it. I know this because she taught me this at a young age and talked about building a strong mind every single day, especially through the awful.

So I did the work that she taught me. I meditated, I prayed, I developed a routine, I talked to a psychologist, I read, I went to a life-changing conference, and I worked on my passions over and over again. I worked on the armies in my mind so that I could be happy and strong, even in times like these. I had to rebuild and I am stronger because of that experience. That is why teaching children and adults about overall wellness and ways to grow your mind is one of my passions. I want to teach all children, not just my own. That is what my book that I am writing is all about and what I want kids and adults to learn. That is what I will do with my time. While I work on my passion I will continue to do the best work of my life in my job because that is important too.

We are all here in this world to do what we were meant to do. But only if you let your passion out and do the work for a really long time, like…forever. We work even when we don’t want to do it and would rather sit on the couch and eat chips. Now don’t get me wrong. There is also a time for that! Put it into your routine but not every day and not for a long period of time. Rise up for yourself and for those little ones around you in order to see their mom or dad be happy. This will affect them and teach them more than any book or lesson will. You are their hero, even if they are teenagers…What will you do with your time? Work on your passion. This is the beginning of anything you want. All you have to do is begin.

Sample Kids Distance Learning Roadmap

Time	Activity
8:00-9:00 am	Morning Routine/Religion:  Get out of bed and pjs, make your bed, and get ready like you would normally for school. Prepare, say a prayer, and eat breakfast
9:00-9:30 am	Math Distance Learning – This is the sharpest part of your focus so let’s start with math/science!  Math Distance Learning that is assigned by the teacher – May have to sit beside them to help them navigate this process at first.
9:30-10:00 am	Reading/Writing/Social Studies Distance Learning assigned by the teacher.  You may also have to sit beside them to help them navigate the process at first.
10:00-10:30 am	Snack Time–  while snacking try listening to an educational podcast like, Even If You Miss (a wellness podcast for kids by kids), Brains On! (Science), Forever Ago (if you like history), Story Pirates (funny stories written by kids). 15 minute Recess – outside if weather permits.
10:30-11:00 am	Optional Silent Reading Time –  Curl up with a favorite book!
11:00-11:30 am	Optional Journaling/writing time –  The goal is to make journaling a part of their daily habits to help them to communicate their feelings in different ways.
11:30-12:00	Optional Collaborative Play – This encourages teamwork and working together. Some examples might be to take hockey shots together in the garage, play hide and seek, build a fort, etc.
12:00-1:00	Lunch –  Option: Listen to some podcasts again!  Click here for more ideas on podcasts.
1:00-1:30 pm	Recess – Play outside if possible!
1:30-2:00 pm	Optional:  Crafts/Baking/Music/Building Activities
2:00-3:00 pm	Optional:  Wellness Family Focus –  This is the power hour for life skills that will bring them joy and ways to do stuff in life, teach them about the importance of daily habits, how to do chores properly, time management, budgeting, etc.
3:00-5:00	Play/Free Time with Family/Individual/Siblings – Time to Work on Passions  A great Website that has academic websites, additional learning ideas and info on structure and routine is We Are all Teachers Now!
5:00-6:00 pm	Supper-  at the table with the Family Optional:  Click here for some conversation topics.
6:00-7:00 pm	Relax, go outside, play time, KIDS WORK ON PASSIONS, family walks, etc.
7:00-8:00	Nighttime Routine:  This is a great time to wind down and reflect on the how the day went by looking back at your schedule and rating each section with an emoji.  For example:  happy emoji- great focus and got lots done Thinking emoji – medium focus and medium frustration Sad face – I was not happy and had a harder time focusing.  Set a goal for the next day!   Click here or here  for some more ideas for bedtime routines.

SAMPLE ADULT ROADMAP FOR WORKING FROM HOME DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Time	Activity
6:00-7:30 am	Morning Routine:   Move your body – 20-30 min. Meditate – 10 min. (suggestions: Calm app or headspace) Journal and set your intention for the day – 5 min Work On Your Passion (reading/writing about it or creating) – 20-30 min. or longer if you have the time
7:30-8:00 am	Get Ready For The Day – While getting ready try listening to an inspirational positive podcasts to fill your mind with fuel to motivate you and set fire to your heart! (Suggestions: Rachel Hollis Rise, Femsplainers, GaryVee, Ed Mylett, Brendan Burchard)
8:00-12:00 pm	Work or Tasks for the Day/Help Kids with Their Distance Learning – Whether you have a job or not, there are still many tasks that need to be done. This is the time to do them. If you are working, stick to your regular working hours with short breaks to still get the job done to the best that you can give. While you are working set up a space for your kids to do their school work while monitoring or helping as needed. This is important!
12:00-1:00 pm	Lunch–  Eat lunch with your family, have a dance party in the kitchen, listen to a podcast, and get outside and play in the yard with them. After 30 min. lunch, curl up as a family and read!
1:00-3:00/4 pm	Work/Task Time –  Continue to complete the tasks for the day from work or around the house.
3:00-5:00 pm	Family Time/Collaborative Play –  This time is sacred with family and a space for some free play. This encourages teamwork and working together. Some examples might be to take hockey shots together in the garage, go for a family walk, make dinner together, bake, do a craft, play hide and seek, play a board game, teach them about doing chores properly, etc.
5:00-6:00 pm	Dinner – It is important that all screens are off during this time and you eat together as a family or with your significant other or with your pet. Optional:  Click here for some conversation topics.
6:00-7:00 pm	Wellness Family Focus –  This is the power hour for life skills that will bring them joy and ways to do stuff in life, teach them about the importance of daily habits, how to do chores properly, time management, budget, etc.
7:00- 8:00 pm	Bed Time Preparations and Bed Time – If you have kids then this is the time to teach them the importance of bed time routines and sleep. This is a great time to pick up a book and read before bed.
8:00-10:00	Free Time with Spouse/Yourself – Time to Work on Passions  This is your time to relax and work on your passion. What will you do with this? Start small and work up to a good chunk of time working on your passion before falling into the netflix world. Develop a habit of starting with 15-20 min. of working on your passion or a healthy habit before turning on the tv or picking up your phone. Each week add five-10 more minutes onto that 20 minutes you started with. Every little bit of time working on your passion adds up. Soon, you will get traction on your plans to make that passion a part of your real life.
10:00 pm	Sleep