What I’m Learning in June
1. Taking a break from my phone, computer, internet, or social media is a breath of fresh air I should welcome. It is a chance to breathe deeper and look for the beautiful things around me. I tend to get caught up in what’s happening with the people around me in the world, especially now that we don’t see our friends and family as regularly as before. When I’m not mindful of how much time I spend scrolling or playing games or anything else on my phone or computer, I start to feel the overconnectedness drive my decision-making. My hands begin to itch and my heart races to know what’s happening outside my small world. Even after checking it a few minutes earlier, I feel a need to make sure there’s no new notification I’ve missed. Recognizing this behavior and allowing my mind a break from the control these devices have over me is a good thing.
2. Naming my feelings is an important step toward accepting them. My emotions are not the enemy, but they don’t have all the facts. It’s okay to feel sadness about our isolation and grief over the loss of sharing our sweet son with our friends. It’s okay to feel sadness not getting these normal experiences as new parents. It’s okay to feel conflicted about enjoying the time together as a family and anxiety at the thought of Ryan going back to work. But my emotions shouldn’t dictate what I do. They need to be weighed against the truth and knowledge of scripture. God made me with emotions, and He gives good gifts to His children. If my emotions are a good gift from my good, good Father, I do not need to be ashamed of them, but they do not get the final say.
3. Looking through a window at the outdoors paints a beautiful picture but doesn’t compare to feeling the wind and sun on my cheeks. Getting outside in the sunshine has no replacement. I can’t replace the benefits of the outdoors on my mental and physical health with a tv screen of a field of daisies. Likewise, a zoom call is an excellent way to stay connected during the quarantine, but it cannot and should not replace in person fellowship. My soul craves the closeness of other people it had in the before. There’s a desperation deep within me for what we had pre-coronavirus. I know it’s an unpopular opinion to want the normal life of before, but this is the reality of my feelings.
