So, how’s everyone doing today? I wanted to check in, as I know the days lately seem strange, chaotic, and a blur perhaps.

It doesn’t matter where you live, a busy metropolitan city, or on a rural farm, we are all facing unprecedented times. Churches are closed. Stores and restaurants are closed. Children are home from school ‘until further notice’. College kids are home for extended spring breaks, likely not returning for the rest of the semester. Sports are canceled, along with proms and graduations. Many people have been told to ‘work from home’ while others are worried about what this will mean for their jobs. It’s unnerving. It’s infuriating. It’s unbelievable. But, it’s here.


For the first time in years, I missed going to church last weekend. I stayed home and watched Mass on TV instead.

For the first time in months, I’ve been sucked into the vortex of 24-hour news, barely peeling my eyes away from any source that would explain what the hell is going on.

For the first time in days, I’m struck with the realization of what social distancing is all about. As a true extrovert, it’s painful.

For the first time today, I’m struck with the notion that everything that was normal is in the past.

There is nothing normal about this new normal. And for many of us, we’re not sure what we are supposed to do now.

What does normalcy look like now?

I can remember in the not too distant past, like, last week, my days were fairly structured. I had a morning routine of making coffee, packing my son’s lunch and driving him to school. I’d come home, spend some time in prayer, and then get to my computer ready to write a few paragraphs, serf social media, and search for my next freelance gig. I’d squeeze in a run, have lunch with friends, and attend evening baseball games and ministry meetings.

Now, I’m finding myself sleeping in later than usual, because, why get up? I’ve gone a couple of days without a shower, or even getting out of my pajamas, because, why bother? The sound of my boy’s gaming tantrums ricochets throughout the house as they search to fill the void with a pastime. My husband is my new cubical partner sharing my home office with his phone calls, meetings, and interruptions.

While I am someone that generally embraces change, these changes have been sudden, all at once and not by choice.

So how does one adapt, exactly?

Start by taking a shower!

In this state of ‘new normal’, it could be tempting to curl up in a ball, binge Netflix, watch endless news, eat nothing but chips and cookies while laying in our PJ’s for days. I’m not saying all of that happened, but it’s possible 4 out of 5 may have this past weekend.

Obviously, that wasn’t terribly productive, healthy or great response to this wretched virus. But sometimes we all just need a weekend to hibernate while reality sets in. After that though, it’s time to take a shower!

The simple act of starting the day with a hot shower, doing my hair and makeup and getting dressed for the day was, strangely, liberating. I still have no place to go, but my psyche soared, and my productivity skyrocketed. I also turned off the TV, turned on some music and forced myself to focus not on what’s going on outside my house, but rather, what I can control inside.

Keeping my kids on a schedule is important as well. Even though they don’t have to be out the door by 8 am, it doesn’t mean they get to stay up till 3 am playing video games then sleep till 1 pm. Yes, that likely happened as well. Routines are still important for my boys. They do still have school work to complete, albeit it’s different now. I woke my youngest up at 11 this morning, made him take a shower and start his day. Tomorrow it will be earlier.


But I just want things to go back to normal!

Ahhh, isn’t this so true?! We yearn for the days when hand sanitizer and toilet paper were found in abundance. You know… just last Monday. We also want all the things that were part of our old normal life:

I want to see my friends.
I want to see my family.
I want to go back to church.
I want the quiet of my house restored.
I want to go to the grocery store and find all the items I need, including toilet paper.
I want my kids to go back to school, for their academic and social development.
I want graduations, school concerts and proms to be back on.
I want my season tickets to the theater to go on as planned. We have Hamilton tickets for goodness sake!
I want to watch my favorite sports teams, basketball, and baseball, pro and college.
I want to go on my scheduled vacations with friends in May and June.
I want to attend scheduled retreats, mission trips, and conferences.
I want this virus to crawl back into the hole from which it came.
I want to go back to my ‘normal’ normal.

Navigating a new normal

Whether we like it or not, a new normal is here, at least for a while. There has been so much written and discussed regarding social distancing, and the part we must all play. For me, that means focusing less on the things I want and embracing this as an opportunity for personal growth.

As I begin to navigate this new normal, there are several things now that I want:

1. I want now more than anything to be compassionate to others struggling with this virus, with compromised immune systems, for the vulnerable.

2. I want to demonstrate patience as we wait for restrictions to be lifted and businesses to once again be opened. I want my friends with small businesses to be thriving instead of worrying.

3. I want to be focused on short and long term strategies that will keep not only my family safe, but others I may come in contact with.

4. I want to keep my eyes fixed on God and continue to place all my faith in Him, who will never leave us, but rather will walk with us during this time of uncertainty.

If I’m being honest, some of my ‘normal’ routines and habits weren’t really all that great. So now, with a new normal, it’s like I get a giant restart. Who knows how long this will last. But I’ll step into it, one shower at a time.