Quarantine Journal: Entry 1

I saw this picture today, and the feeling struck.
 To say that I miss the mountains right now is a major understatement. 

I have taken a hiatus from writing and taken time to pause and reflect on the state of the world. We are all being trialed on an unprecedented event with no guidebook, How-To's, or vaccines. What a time to be alive. The best way I can describe what I am feeling, aside from all the lack of words, is the build-up and play-out of Avengers: Endgame.

---

And while the current state of affairs is much more important than a Blockbuster Marvel movie, the theme is quite similar with an essence of eerie, Doomsday vibes.

I have been trying to take neighborhood jogs daily to keep up with my mental and physical health. The absolute truth is, I miss my mountains. I miss the fresh air, impeccable scenery, and silence that one can only find deep within the woods. I miss the uncanny burn that presents itself in your thighs when you force yourself to climb hundreds of feet, even thousands, to gain elevation for stellar layered mountain views. I miss the trees and the sound of wind bustling through their cluttered branches.

But there is a certain satisfaction that comes from the simple joys of life that involve being present and content with exactly where you are, doing whatever it is you are doing. It involves only the resources you have available within your immediate environment.

Amidst the chaos, I find resilience in my photo bank. I am able to reflect on memories in the mountains and draw forth a near-feeling of being lost in the woods. I wonder if anyone out there can relate. It almost feels that we, as a society, have forgotten how to truly relax and take meaningful deep breaths, or maybe we never learned how from the start. And even under a Global Pandemic, there is a feeling of guilt present for sitting in one spot for too long.

I feel a restless sense of urgency to help combat this pandemic.

​Thank you to everyone out their on the frontlines, showing brevity that many of us cannot. Thank you to those working food retail, so that the rest of us have food on the table. Thank you for our service station men and women who allow us the luxury to pump gas. Thank you to our military men and women who are called out on a dime to leave their families and attend to the needs of the people.

And to those of us at home, doing our best not to take any unnecessary trips- what can we collectively do to help the rest of the world during these trying times? Staying home is certainly the biggest way we can help combat the spread of the disease, but there must be more that can be done.

Please share your thoughts below about how you, a friend or family member, small business, or compassionate brand is making the world a better place during these times.

​Let's show them some love.