The last few months have been a roller coaster ride. Just over three months ago I received an offer for my dream job. I was on top of the world! I quickly put in my two weeks notice and tried to tie up loose ends before I packed up my cubicle, hugged many of my colleagues goodbye, and looked forward to a short break between jobs.
A couple of days into my break, the pandemic hit. Suddenly I was stocking up on groceries, prepping freezer meals, thoroughly washing my hands, reading the news, learning how to sanitize anything we brought into the house, and trying to make heads or tails of this new upside down world.
Since starting my new job, I’ve been working from home. My first two months have been a blur of emotions: joy from working in a role I’m truly passionate about, disappointment at not being able to connect in-person with my new colleagues, gratitude for the extra time at home, fear about leaving the house, satisfaction in learning new skills in the kitchen, and anxiety about what the future might hold. And the last few weeks in Minneapolis have only added to the roller coaster ride with outrage over the murder of George Floyd, hope as I see people rise up for justice, grief as my city was set on fire, and cautious optimism as we begin to rebuild a better city for all of us - not just those who are white.
I’m guessing you’ve been on this roller coaster, too. One of the best antidotes I’ve found to help smooth out the ride is focusing on the things that are going right when so much in the world seems to be going wrong. I’ve often found that it’s the small things that bring me the most joy. Here’s some of what I’m grateful for right now:
Education: I’m so grateful for all of the black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) who have taken the time to create resources to educate those of us in a position of privilege about what life is really like as a BIPOC and how we can be good allies. I shared a few in last week’s blog post, but since I have learned of so many more from blog articles, social posts, news articles, and conversations with people I care about. There’s no reason to remain silent when we have so many great resources at our disposal to help us learn how to speak.
Speaking Up: I’ve been in awe of all of the influencers, companies, and every day people who have risen up on and offline to cry out for the unjust death of George Floyd and all of those killed by police brutality. So many people who have been too afraid to speak out in the past have risen up to join the crowd - it’s amazing to see! May we continue to seek justice even when it’s not “in vogue”. This is going to be a long road. To that end, next month’s Date Night Club will continue this theme by helping you take a look at how you can use your money - no matter how much you have - to fight for justice for all people.
Slowed Pace of Life: I’m so incredibly grateful that this shelter-in-place order has forced me to slow down. I’ve realized that more sleep helps me to be a better partner and brings more focus into my work day. I’ve also rediscovered things I enjoy, like baking, reading, watching old Disney movies, jigsaw puzzles, hiking, and chatting with friends on the phone.
Flour and Yeast: I have been the queen of #quarantinebaking. I’m grateful for the opportunity to try out new recipes I never had time to work on before, like pain au chocolat, sourdough bread, s’mores cake, and more. Can’t wait until I can share my new creations with my friends.
Spring: Spring has always been my favorite season. Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, spring often lasted for a couple of months. In Minnesota, we’re lucky if spring lasts a few weeks before the summer heat starts. Not this year. It’s been lovely. I’ve enjoyed every stage of the growth process, from watching trees finally begin to turn green again, to seeing optimistic buds shoot up out of the soil, to seeing flowers bloom.
Small Business Owners: My neighborhood is teeming with entrepreneurs. From restaurants to cafes to shops, we have it all. They are a big part of what makes our neighborhood a great place to live. And while these small businesses have felt the sharp edge of the financial impact of this pandemic keenly, many of them have quickly pivoted to doing curbside delivery, “try on at home” programs, and connecting with their audience through social media. My relationship with these businesses has only grown stronger through the pandemic.
Emergency Savings: My husband and I are certainly in a place of privilege right now for a variety of reasons, but one is because we’ve worked very hard over the last few years to build up a short term emergency fund ($1,000) and begin saving up for our longer-term fund (3-6 months of savings). Even just a few years we didn’t have this type of cushion available! Having that extra money in the bank “just in case” has given us a sense of confidence that if one of us lost our job or our salaries were reduced we would be able to make it.
Travel Fund: While these travel fanatics certainly aren’t planning to get on a plane any time soon, we’ve been using this time where we’ve spent less in certain areas of our budget to stash away money towards future trips. Once we’re able to travel again, we’ll be ready to go. In the meantime, we’ll keep watching the adventures of Kara and Nate and adding more places to our bucket list.
Windows: One of the main reasons I haven’t been feeling lonely in this isolated time is because we have so many windows in our new apartment. We can see people walking along the river, playing with their dogs on the Federal Reserve lawn, or filming TikTok videos on the patio of the apartment building across the street. It has reminded me that we really are all in this together.
Delivery People: I think delivery workers are the unsung heroes of quarantine. They have put their lives at risk to make sure people can get the groceries, medications, and more that they need. I have found them to be incredibly respectful, kind, and hardworking, and am grateful for the work they are doing to keep us all safe and supplied at home.
At-Home Workouts: My husband and I are determined not to get #quarantinebod by gaining the “corona 19.” With all the #quarantinebaking I’ve been doing, we’ve had to be really intentional about this. I’ve especially been enjoying the workouts from MadFit (which are fun and pretty challenging) and some fiery vinyasa practices from Yoga with Adriene. We’ve also been trying to get outside on walks and hikes, especially on bad weather days when it’s easier to keep a 6’ distance.
A Caring Network of Support: I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to connect more often with friends and family members, whether for phone dates, Zoom happy hours, virtual game nights, or just the occasional text. Despite not being together in person, I think I will come out of quarantine with stronger relationships with those I care about.
Money Dates: With all of the shifting economic sand, it’s been nice to have something my husband and I can depend on. We’re continuing our budget breakfast tradition - though instead of going out, we’re having breakfast in bed. It’s felt good (and normal!) to stay connected to our everyday budget and savings goals.
What are you grateful for? Let me know below!