It’s a New Season

I am sure we’ve all heard enough of the "C" word so I am just going to limit health-related specifics to:  I hope you are all well and staying well and being safety-minded. Though I’ve had my struggles with the intensity of it all and the restrictions, I am well and healthy, my family is too, and we have enough of what we need. 

So my subject title is from a song we sang in one of the churches I attended, that’s been on my mind lately:

"It's a new season, it's a new day…It's a new season coming to me."  (Video Plus Lyrics)

-     (Israel Houghton, Derick Thomas)

I don’t know what’s on the horizon, but I want to commit to expect good things. I hope for a new season of blessing and joy.  I know that doesn’t always happen but I am going to plan for good things anyway. I may be accused of being a cock-eyed optimist, but oh well.

One way to be mindful of when things that aren’t great happen—instead of that new season of blessing—is a workaround. When I have a problem to solve I am almost obsessive to find a solution.  I was stunned when I found out my daughter’s commencement ceremony at the University of North Florida was canceled. My first response was to start a Facebook group, UNF Parents Class of 2020. My original goal was to ensure our kids got a rescheduled date, but as things got worse for our community, it shifted to a support group to encourage other parents and their students. However, I had given up on any kind of celebration here for family and friends.  My husband will be retiring on April 30 and we were going to combine both events for one party. Finally, my problem-solving brain pushed back against the “NO YOU CAN’T HAVE IT”. We are going to invite the guests to participate via Zoom and those who cannot or aren’t comfortable with Zoom can do a virtual “drive-by” in the form of a Facebook Congrats greeting or send an e-greeting. Contingency plan. ✔

Giving is another way to push back on something that is taking away from you. I love the many options available for giving to meet needs created by the current problem. I shared this option, Meals on Wings, a UNF initiative that delivers meals to seniors in need in my UNF Parents Class of 2020 group Check out Meals On Wings.

I am not going to let this strange time with all its restrictions roll over me. Life goes on.

Ideas?

I’m not interested in a one-way conversation. What creative ways have you used to solve problems? Email or leave a comment on this post .  I'll compile and publish the responses. (If you want to remain anonymous, let me know.) Ideas certainly don't need to be related to the current situation, just anything.  Share, please. It may encourage someone or it may make someone’s day.

 Get takeaways from any negative situation. Otherwise, you have been robbed.