Eons ago, as a woman in my early 20’s, I lived in Houston, TX for about 6 months.  Ok, maybe it wasn’t quite “eons ago” but it was a long time ago.

It was the first “big city” I remember living in.  In fact, since the age of 5 I had really only lived in my home town of Idaho Falls, Idaho, nearby Rexburg, Idaho and St. George/Cedar City, Utah.  And in case you are not familiar with small towns of the 80’s, these were all small towns in the Western United States where not much happens.

When I moved to Houston, I had the great privilege of learning about hurricanes.  The people in the church I attended were so great about teaching a “newbie” all about what to do in case of a hurricane.

I learned about “stocking up” and “hunkering down”.  What to do if the power is out for a long time and you have a freezer full of meat.  All the important things.

The biggest thing I learned was about the support of a stranger.  Our congregation had a sister congregation in a neighboring city and should we need to evacuate, there were church members ready to receive us!  Wow!  I thought that was amazing!  They don’t know me or anything about me and they are “on call” and willing to take me in, put shelter over my head, feed me, etc.  WOW!

Now, thankfully, to this day I have not experienced a hurricane first hand.  Yet each hurricane season, as I see reports on the news of people preparing for the worst and the empty shelves at the stores, I am reminded of my time in Houston.  I am reminded of the fear I felt – even though there was never even a pending or potential hurricane while I was there.

When I see news reports of the after math of a city after a hurricane has passed through, I see the worry and fear of those who have been affected.  Will they rebuild?  Will they move?  How will they move forward?

Yet for many it is not their first time going through this.  Those that have been there before are there for those who are “newbies”, just like the sister congregation was prepared to help me should I need to evacuate back in the early 90’s.  They all work together and help each other.

Now, here we are in uncharted territory.  Never that I am aware of, has there been such a worldwide shut-down with the pending fear of a devastating and potentially deadly sickness.

There are many rumors floating around.  There is fear among the masses.  There are people who are almost under house arrest and others who ignore the recommendations and are living life as usual.

There are empty shelves all over the country – not just in a few cities around the Nation.  Many people are working from home or not working at all.  Schools are closed and children are being home schooled.

You are likely practicing “social distancing” or “sheltering in place” or “self-quarantine”.  It is isolating to say the least.

Plans are on hold or cancelled.  Graduations are cancelled.  What is happening with weddings?  Are they being postponed or held in groups of 10 or less?  Life has changed.

None of this is news to you, you are living it.

So why do I bring it up?

Unfulfilled expectations can be hard to swallow.

That’s why.

Maybe your spring break vacation was cancelled.  Or your high school graduation is not going to happen with fan-fair and a big celebration.  Perhaps you are like me and you are missing spending time with your extended family… you long to be with them and give them a big hug, but you know it must wait.  You are missing weddings and the birth of babies and who knows what else.  Yes, it is not fun and NOT how you planned it.

But this is temporary and a great learning experience.

Even if all of this lasts a couple of months, we will get through it!  It will end.  Schools and churches will open their doors again.  New vacations will be planned and executed.  Shopping as usual will return!

It is also true that some things just won’t happen – those unfulfilled expectations. 

Learning to process and let those things go is essential to your health and your happiness. 

Here are 3 things you can do NOW to get the process going.

1. Live in the now.  Adapt.  Be excited that you get to work from home, stay away from neighbors, learn how to stretch a dollar and a pound of hamburger even further than before.  Treat it as a game, a fun adventure – not doom and gloom.
2. When things don’t happen, ie graduation, vacation, etc., journal about it as if they did!  Write a story about your awesome vacation, use your imagination, create it in your mind even if it will never happen as you planned. 
3. Let go of “if only” or “I wish I could have” or “it’s such a bummer that”.  Remove those from your thoughts and your vocabulary.  Dwelling on what will never be only lowers your vibration.  Remember, what you think about you bring about.  You can’t change what is happening only your response/reaction to it.  Instead of wallowing in what might have been, go back to #2 and create what could be.

Remember, we are all in this together.  It will end.  Life will continue.  What awesome new skills will you learn from this experience that you can share with others should you encounter something like this again?  Or just for your learning and growth?

It’s a time a re-birth!  Enjoy my friend and your load will be light and you will be filled with hope and joy every day in every way – and isn’t that what you really want?