Lemonade Out of Lemons
BY M.A. TARPINIAN
So we all know that life can throw us curveballs, a.k.a. “ Are you kidding me????” The universe has a quirky little sense of humor, and when you think things are going great, Murphys Law kicks into high gear. I tested positive for Covid-19 on August 10th as did both my co-teachers. Our classroom would be shut down for two weeks. We had to quarantine for ten days, then re-test before we could even step foot into the school. Protocols need to be followed. Coming from a predominantly medical family, I understand the importance of following directives, so I get it. I was prepared to do what I needed to do.
What I WASN’T prepared for was what I am going to do with myself for ten days? Granted, my diagnosis came with many physical restrictions (shortness of breath, body aches, constant headache). But I was convinced that, despite all that (mixed with a little bit of fear), I would at least try to make the time productive.
So I made a list. Like I always do when faced with a “project” ( as a successful event organizer in another life, this is a knee-jerk reaction). Let’s see…. Perfect time to clean out my closet and finally get rid of those clothes laughing at me (they know I will NEVER get into them again), purge my fridge, finish my scrapbook on my annual vacay to Marthas Vineyard, write my blog for Emily, re-organize my dresser drawers. Needless to say, it was pretty ambitious.
It is now August 22nd. Have I done everything on my Quarantine List? Nope. Not even close. I wrote my blog (obviously) and cleaned out the fridge. Am I beating myself up over it? Not at all. Well, why not M.A.? Because just by making a list, I had decided to be proactive and control what I could under the circumstances. An approach that has served me well throughout my entire life.
Lesson Learned? There will always be things in our lives that will challenge us to take a step back and re-evaluate. A new job, a new relationship, or a new location. As humans, it is in our nature to always (well sometimes) second guess ourselves. And that’s OK. We need to be challenged. It’s how we learn. And cope.
So maybe my pitcher of lemonade wasn’t completely full. I can live with that. I know when I am up and around again, I can, and will, fill it up. And it will taste that much sweeter.
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