Hope, elusive but here
Hi there! As I contemplate things this week, I keep coming back my joy at seeing things that are familiar, even if they are modified. We have gotten kids back to school and though that is still scary, it seems to be moving forward. And football started up. For me, when people ask what my favorite season of the year is, I generally say “Football.” I love the game, I love watching, I love attending. And in a year that has largely been without the background patter of our usual sporting events, seeing college football (ISU) and NFL start back up this week was a breathe of fresh air. It feels like a beacon that indicates we will come through this. I know the NFL is largely money driven, but it is also a part of the fabric of our fall season. And anything that brings back something that feels stable and normal is welcomed. I mean, earlier this week we learned that the three state universities in Iowa have canceled Spring Break. I hearken back to being in college and how that would have gone over. I can’t imagine not having that to look forward to. But here we are. So, football it is. Does it mean our journey through 2020 is on the downhill slide? Oh goodness no. We still have over a quarter of this year to get through. But it is like a little sunlight through the darkness to be able to have it on in the background. It feels like a return to normalcy that I have not felt in a long time.
This is just my contemplation. I would encourage you to spend some time finding your own signals that we will get through this year. Maybe worse for wear, but we will get through. Because that is what we do. We persevere.
Use your coping skills. Use your self-talk. Use your support system. Don’t be shy about reaching out when things feel too heavy. For goodness sake, take care of yourself so you are in a place where you can shoulder taking care of your loved ones. And if things get too heavy, seek professional help. It’s not a symbol of weakness, it is a show of strength. And I can’t oversell how good it feels to share the burden with someone whose interest is in you alone and in how to help you manage the things in your life.
Thanks for reading. Take Care,
AmyZ
9-22-2018 ISU Game Day
