By Kristen Donia

The world changed in what seemed like the blink of an eye. Suddenly there are rules in place, events we can’t attend, activities we can’t participate in. This is a whole new way of living. And we’re all feeling that, to the core. With this newfound space and time, what are we to do? Where do we even start?

If you’re anything like me, the emotions come in waves and they are ever-changing. And now is our moment, to go inside.

Both literally (inside our houses/communities) and figuratively (inside our own minds and hearts). This is a particularly odd, yet beautiful moment, where we can narrow our focus and think of ourselves, while we do something to help the world as a whole.

For now, we lean into what brings us comfort, joy, laughter, the small moments that get us through the day. And then, when we feel strong and ready, we think, we dream, perhaps we even write out, what we want for ourselves. It all starts with you.

Now is the perfect time to focus on fabulous, wonderful, unstoppable you. Begin a new healthy habit, even if it’s five minutes a day. Maybe you grab a notebook and write at the end of the night before bed. Maybe you put your phone on airplane mode and unplug from all the noise in the world right now. Or you may want to log into TikTok to stay connected with friends and learn new dances that will challenge your mind & body and see what your friends have been up to.

Do something in this season that changes you for the better. The way we feel about ourselves is often dependent on how in touch we are with our needs. Ask your mind, your body, and your heart, what they need right now. Get quiet, and just listen. I know it’s scary, especially if you haven’t done it before. But the really cool part about it is, it gets easier. You just have to start somewhere. This unique time has given us all an opportunity to sit with how we are feeling, and in between comforting our confused minds, look objectively at our habits and decide how we can change for the better, to feel better in our own skin. What will you do for yourself today? How will you learn to love this space and where you are in it?