It’s hard to remember what life was like before Covid-19 entered our lives, when we were free to leave our homes without worrying about contracting a deadly virus. There’s nonstop pandemic news, we’ve been isolated from friends and family, and the specter of death is constant. And bombshells keep coming: a broken economy, a national reckoning on racism and police violence, and an infernal presidential election, to name a few.

We don’t know when things are going to ease up or how much worse they may get. The one thing I’ve figured out is the art of going one day at a time. I stay off social media, and focus on being productive for myself and the people I love. And it’s working. In a sense, I’ve been training for this for a long time. I’ve been self-employed for my entire career, and for the past 11 years, I’ve been working from home. I’ve also been practicing yoga for two decades and have a dedicated fitness plan. After a few minutes of gratitude and a workout each morning, I’m in a good place. Even the bad days can become good days, and I know how to keep pressing forward when it’s hard.

Although I spend most of my time alone, usually working, I feel far from lonely. I feel relieved for a forced pause to reevaluate and reflect on what’s important to me. To deepen connections. To have a rare chance to really dig into my creativity and learn new skills. To work on how I can use my creative skills to help people who really need it. To plant seeds. To truly enjoy simplicity and just chill. To recognize how blessed I am.

My simple plan is to keep going one day at a time. To fill my days with tasks to stay productive. To enjoy a rare window of continuous learning and creative exploration. To really appreciate the small things. Most importantly, to work on being the best person I can be.

Wishing you small joys and daily appreciations. Happy holidays!