Hi, everyone! I hope that you’re doing well and staying safe in quarantine! Definitely never thought I would say those words in my lifetime.
As I was sitting on my couch, pondering different ideas for today’s post, I started thinking about the future, which seems so far away right now.
What are my future plans?
How do I plan for the future when I don’t know what the future will hold?
I wish I had a monumentally life-changing answer to the second question, but I don’t.
However, I wanted to use today’s post to share how I’ve changed my mindset about my future plans since the pandemic started.
Looking Toward the Future
As a person, I’ve always been very future thinking. I don’t wallow in the past—that’s never been my style. But, I’m just really confused about how I should think right now. How do I even make plans when I don’t have a single clue about how the current circumstances will impact that future?
I, like many people, have a general idea of how I want my career to pan out. That’s the one thing I’ve always been very forward thinking about. But, with everything going on, I’m starting to realize that maybe I don’t have to physically move somewhere to make a career change in the future.
How My Mindset Has Changed
Before all this happened, I had some very loose plans in my head about moving out of Ohio again in 2021. I think that coming back to Cleveland has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, but career-wise, there just aren’t that many opportunities in the writing world for me here—especially in the direction that I want to pivot toward.
Mind you, this was my thinking up until about March of this year. I was pretty much set on the idea that I would move somewhere after my next lease is up. Where I would move, I don’t know.
To be honest, I’m starting to backtrack on that idea now. Not to say that it won’t happen, but through this I’ve learned to be content in my current situation, not worrying about what my next big move could be.
Goodbye, planning for the future
I’ve realized that I’m genuinely really happy with where I’m at right now. I love my job, I love where I live, and I love being surrounded by family and friends.
Especially now, the idea of leaving all of that behind for a new adventure scares me a bit.
Do I want to be far away from family and loved ones if something like this happens again?
I can’t imagine how I would be feeling if I was still living all by myself in Myrtle Beach with no family in the vicinity. I don’t think I would have the same mindset as I do now.
So, how exactly am I planning for the future without knowing what the future will hold?
I’m not.
I’m living more in the present and accepting where I’m at right now. Before the pandemic, I was go-go-go all the time. Why? Because I hated being bored. But, I think back then, I was so convinced that doing a million things in a day would keep me entertained. Spoiler alert: it didn’t.
I’m finding comfort in the hobbies I haven’t had time to do in years. I’m loving the extra time in my space to really make it feel like a home—not just somewhere I live.
Slowing down has been hard for me, but I know now that it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.
Well, that’s all I’ve got for you this week, friends!
Until next time!
Alicia
Outfit Details:
Sweater (Free People), Hat (Aldo Accessories), Skirt (Anthropologie), Sunglasses (Ray-Ban)