What am I learning?

It was maybe a year or two ago when my manager planted the seed by saying, "Patti, you ought to have a blog. You have so much to share." And it was maybe four months ago when a friend and co-worker told me that I could purchase my name through google domains. And she encouraged me, "Go buy it. It'll be there when you're ready for it." So, Tomislav and Crystal, you were the instigators of this. Thank you for encouraging me.

We're three weeks into COVID19 and the reality is sinking in that even when we get past all of this, life as we knew it will be different. 

What do we do in times like these? 

Gratitude

We have to begin each day by counting our blessings out loud. When we feel fear, we must stop and count our blessings out loud. 

Look for Ways to Help Others

I was talking with a friend who was so excited to share with me that she's found a way to use her gifts to help others. She's a sewer, and she's making masks with all the spare fabric she has from projects past. She's making them and giving them away because she can. I left the call thinking, what am I doing to help others? What gifts do I have that can help others? I like to teach. Not because I'm an expert, but because I like to share what I've learned and because I believe God put me here to teach.

So, what do we do for the next who knows how many weeks? 

First, we practice counting our blessings if we're not in the habit of doing that already. 

Second, we ask ourselves, "What gifts do I have that I can use to help others?" Think and act on that.

Plan for Personal Renewal

Lastly, I use suggest that you consider taking this opportunity to ask yourself, "What would an ideal schedule look like for me?" 

Write out a few scenarios and try them out the next couple of weeks. Stephen Covey says that personal renewal starts with exercising (weekly) your:

• mind
• body 
• spirit
• emotions/social 

Set goals this week in those four areas. Take care of yourself so that you can take care of everyone around you. 

Exercise personal integrity by doing what you say you are going to do, and then reflect at the end of the week to determine what you will do differently next week.

Humbly I come before you with this advice.