Red, White, and Feeling Blue?

Aside from the PTO day and the 4th of July playlist on Spotify, you wouldn't know it's one of the (traditionally) biggest weekends of the summer. Or even summer at all. Summer days formerly spent at the pool, engrossing myself in all things Big Brother, and getting cocktails with friends have become solo ventures riding my bike, bingeing almost anything and everything on Netflix and Hulu, and reminding myself that healthy trumps boredom. When I'm feeling lonely, anxious, down and out and all around shitty, I have to remind myself that #gritandgrace will carry me through. Good things are coming.

Hard to believe we're halfway through 2020. It's hard to even think back to the start of the year and wonder what my plans were. 

It's been a year. And then some. In just six months. I still remember being at work when I got the email that my gym was closing for two weeks in mid-March "out of an abundance of caution" because someone who used the facilities tested positive for C-19. Annoying. Absurd. I hope I get a refund I remember thinking. A day or two later our boss told us to pack up anything we needed and plan to work remotely. (I've been back to the office twice in about 100 days.) The gym ended up staying closed almost 2.5 months. It's been back open a month and I'm still adjusting to pre-scheduling my workouts through an online scheduler and having to book ahead to ensure a spot. Truth be told, I'd rather continue my outdoor workouts that I enjoyed in the spring but that's nearly impossible with NOLA's never ending, oppressive humidity. 

2020 has been marked by a public health pandemic, America's wake up to racial injustice and systemic oppression, navigating a long-distance relationship where planning a trip is almost laughable, and in good news, an active real estate venture. I've completed 6 transactions so far this year with a 7th moving toward act of sale this month. I'll hit my goal for the year and look forward to any lagniappe deals as 2020 rolls on. 

Trips planned to Austin in March, Denver in April, and Jackson Hole in June were all canned. But I'm grateful the remote work life opened the door for me to spend two weeks in San Antonio with Travis in May and escape to Smith Lake, AL for a long weekend in June with friends. I've got another San Antonio trip on the books next month (C-19 permitting) and another trip to Smith Lake with the family in late September. 

So the good news? The silver lining?

• The family is all healthy. No C-19. 
• I've kept my job through it all, no furloughs, and been given some really exciting projects and initiatives to pour my energy into.
• A new/refreshed perspective on what (and who matters). Life has calmed down, I appreciate the small interactions and community building with friends when they come, and I've learned I don't need to spend $$$$ every week to do that. (Though I do miss a restaurant, movie theatre, bar, and the list goes on).
• I now know I definitely don't want a permanent, remote work job. I crave community and office culture. But a job with flexibility to work remotely 1-2x a week? Yes, please!
• Continuing to grow my real estate business! 
• Reconnecting with my church family in STL, The Gathering. I've been tuning in to their virtual worship services since Easter and it's been fueling my spiritual needs.
• TRAVIS. Eight months of investing, exploring, and navigating this thing we call life with. 

I don't know what the remainder of 2020 has in store for me. I know C-19 will be part of the narrative and likely a starring player. But I'll focus on the good. And continue to hope for the best.