We can count the days anyway we want.
Today is day 455 since I began my Pandemic Posts. But we are not in lockdown anymore. All five of us have had two vaccine shots. We are within nine days of all of us being past the two shots plus two weeks clearance window.
And yet, I’m conscious of the facts. We are not through this pandemic completely. Far from it. There are still daily reports of illnesses and deaths. There is still a long way to go before enough people are vaccinated to stymie the spread. We still grab a mask as we are leaving the house.
We are not really counting the days anymore, and yet we are not fully back to normal. Frankly, I’m tired. And burnt out. More of the old normal, please.
Today is day 143 since I began a daily at-home yoga practice. I have practiced yoga for several years, consistently attending classes a few times each week. When we all began to shelter in our homes, I began to periodically do online yoga classes. And on January 20, 2021, I started a 21-day yoga challenge. After I finished that 21 days, I did a 30-day series of yoga sessions. I have since done yoga every day.
Every day or, often, evening, I roll out my mat and spend at least 15 minutes. For me. Tonight I did a restorative practice that consisted of few poses and a lot of breathing. It was exactly what I needed. Last night I did a harder practice outside, on the deck, and it was incredible until the last few minutes in savasana, when the mosquitos found my stillness enticing.
Every day, even when I it is late or I just don’t feel like getting down on the ground, I feel better having taken the time for me. It has been transformative. Truly.
Today is day 11 of #1000wordsofsummer, an online writing challenge and, even better, a community of writers taking part in the challenge. Each day we commit to writing 1,000 words on a project. I have been working on a novel manuscript that has been in the works for at least 10 years. I’ve spent most of my 1,000 words each day editing and adding to an existing draft that already totals more than 69,000 words. I am energized. I am committed. I have set a goal to finish the current revision by the end of July. If I continue with 1,000 words each day, I will get there.
There’s nothing else right now, really. No way I want to tidily tie together these two commitments I am keeping amidst a world that is still defined by the pandemic. I’m just here, on a Friday night, day 455 or maybe day 1 of a new commitment to be here, possibly. I don’t know yet. For now, just marking the moment in this way is enough. Because sometimes, just marking moments IS enough. It’s hard for me to say that. Hard for me not to find a larger meaning, an enticing connection, a serendipitous lesson learned. But tonight I’m just here on a day that marks accomplishments that I am proud of. Because, ultimately, these counting of days are moments of commitments to myself. And even though the writing and the yoga continue to take place during a pandemic, I am grateful to have been able to find something for me.