November was the first month that I spent multiple weeks alone at the lake house. I’d gone a handful of days alone in the past, but as the weather turns cold there’s no reason for anyone else to be there. The isolation was a bit difficult at times but I found a good daily rhythm and focused on being present.
From the Album: 2020
One of the most useful lessons I learned on my year off was to live presently; no matter what is going on, to be mindful of what I am feeling and to listen to what those feelings are telling me. That skill was valuable throughout 2020 as I had to deal with lockdown and the nonstop stream of unfortunate news. The entire year felt like my anxiety and depression Super Bowl. I’ve been learning how to manage, learning how to sit with my feelings, learning how to be alone and okay. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t difficult. Just look at what I let happen to my facial hair. But I took time to enjoy the small things and even learned some new things. And hopefully 2021 will bring slivers of hope and progress.
