Body Change During COVID-19

A few weeks a go, I sat on the edge of my bed, in my brand-new suit from Target & looked in the mirror. ⁣

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From the soft folds of my tummy to the way my blood circulated in shadowy lines under my skin, I paused, quietly taking in both the new & the familiar of my ever-changing frame. ⁣

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The weather had warmed, just enough to spur up the desire to replace my sweaters & coats in my closet with the sundresses & light jackets I had stashed away in the basement.⁣

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Yes, as always, I’ll admit, it was a bit too soon, but (as I’ve also said every year prior) the air held promises of warmer days & with multiple trips on the calendar & a new suit peeking out of my reusable shopping bag, I just couldn’t help myself. ⁣

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And so I sat, on the edge of my bed, in my brand-new suit from Target & looked in the mirror. ⁣

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Having skipped forward a few weeks now, I know now that things are different. ⁣

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The trips have been cancelled, ⁣

the weather...although warmer..can only be enjoyed at a distance and whatever plans I had for the weeks to come, have long since changed. ⁣

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And so now, again, I sit, this time along with the rest of the world on our beds, couches & the occasional cushioned patio lounger, & wait. ⁣

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Looking in the mirror at the beginning of March, I couldn’t have possibly predicted what was to come. ⁣

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It’s funny how life has always had a palpable way of changing - but also still, a way of altering in ways we couldn’t have ever imagined. ⁣

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As your schedule, mindset & lifestyle have surly shifted in the past few weeks, your body probably has too - in physical shape and/or mental state. ⁣

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You may be eating foods you once feared (i.e. feel good meals like pasta or budget friendly foods like frozen pizza & canned veggies). ⁣

You may be finding yourself drinking more alcohol,⁣

not moving as often,⁣

missing workout classes,⁣

sleeping more or less than you’d like...⁣

etc. etc. ⁣

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And that’s okay. ⁣

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There is no one-size-fits-all handbook for how to handle things/times like this. ⁣

Your coping/survival/joy may look different than mine in this season. ⁣

And that’s okay too. ⁣

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I hope that you can look in the mirror today, with kind & accepting eyes - taking in both the new & the familiar - and being okay with what you see. ⁣⁣

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You don’t have to love change. ⁣⁣

You don’t even have to like it. ⁣⁣

But taking it on, at war with yourself, won’t make it any better. ⁣⁣

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Stay at home, stay safe & STOP letting Instagram or strangers on the internet make you feel like crap about yourself. ⁣⁣

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We’re gonna get through this. ⁣⁣

One prayer, walk around the block & bottle of wine at a time. ⁣⁣

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ILY guys.⁣⁣

xx ⁣⁣

lanes