Livermore Strong

THE GREAT OUTDOORS ••• "In the first month of shelter in place I think I forgot that my activity level had dramatically decreased. Meanwhile, we had a lot of time to dedicate to playing with recipes, so cooking and baking quickly became favorite hobbies at [our] house. I think I must have put on 10 pounds the first month!! It was clearly time for some exercise, and I decided the best way for me to do that was to get back in touch with the great outdoors. I decided to hit the parks around the Tri-Valley, some well known and some new ones (to me, at least.) I find that my mind is calmed every time I'm on the trail, except that one time when I almost stepped on a rattlesnake! The quiet, the peace, the fresh air, the warming sun, has all had a great effect on my physical and mental health. I feel quite blessed to have rediscovered the outdoors, and in the process, a little bit more of myself too." -Mike, Realtor. 🌳 🐍 ☀️

FRAME OF MIND ••• "It was my birthday two days into quarantine. For heavens sake, a regular birthday cake would’ve been awesome. Instead I got one with a mask and an empty bottle of corona. Haha it was all fun and jokes until two months in and I hit a valley. I wasn’t seeing peaks anymore. I felt so overwhelmed with work, I felt as though I was supposed to be somewhere else in my life. A little over a year ago I just got my bachelors degree. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I feel like I was seeing the same people every day as if it was Groundhog Day. And then something changed. I really started to look at the people around me and the place that I was at and realized that I could not do life every day without the exact people around me. Without them I don’t know where I’d be. Mental health has been such a huge focus for me. It doesn’t mean that I’m completely satisfied with where I’m at, but dang, I love the people I get to be around. I’m so loved and cared for. What a privilege it is." -Rachel, 23, Server. ♥️ 🌄 🕊️

GREEN THUMB ••• "I started gardening more during the SIP. I get to be home more hours & now have time to tend to the garden, & I also started growing some herbs & veggies cuz of the food shortage issues early on. I would've done more if I had more time, but I'm still working a lot, albeit very grateful I still have a job that I can do from home. Plus I'm known for my black thumb, so actually seeing anything grow successfully under my care feels like a huge accomplishment. It's also really rewarding when I need a meditative escape from all the bad news to watch things come to life, grow, & flourish. The garden changes every day, & it attract lots of beautiful critters like butterflies, dragonflies & that lil guy in my basil." - Maria, Finance
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Thank you Maria for sharing your experience. Your green thumb seems to be paying off. As Jenny Uglow has said, "We might think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it's our garden that is really nurturing us."

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THE GOOD ••• “I would like to start by saying during times like these it’s important to look for the good wherever we can find it. I clearly remember March 16, 2020. Not only because it’s my birthday but because we would learn that Alameda County had ordered a Shelter in place. As a small business owner & a single mom, 2 weeks off was something I could get behind. I had grand plans to spend time w/ my sons & catch up on the things I never had time to do before. I thought I’d be ahead of the game by the time I went back to work. That feeling was short lived. I quickly learned I had been living w/ a false belief, “ I just need more time, if I had more time I would be caught up & organized, which in turn would make me happy & able to enjoy life. Life would be wonderful, 🍭 & 🌈!“

SURPRISE! Time didn’t end up being the problem; I was. I’ve struggled w/ ADD my entire life. I’ve exhaustively powered through everyday for as long as I can remember. It’s a part of me I can truly say I hated. Past tense, hated, being the optimal word.
I’m incredibly grateful to be given the time to understand myself, find new ways that work for my brain, & most of all, kinder to myself. My new perception of not feeling “Broken” has allowed me to enjoy time, instead of a constant fear of forgetting & not being caught up. Priceless things I will continue to find time for post COVID-19: Backyard Movie Night w/ my favorite people. Sitting & Talking around the fire pit. Ping pong in the garage. Having memes explained to me, I know my son’s love that one. Learning about anime, who knew!? Developing new programs for the Studio. Finding ways that work for me to accomplish my goals. Trying new recipes. Making up new rules to games. Getting to know my kids on a whole new level, they’re awesome by the way. Can’t forget Riggs, our 120 lb. pup. Most of all sheer gratitude for having the health & time to do all the above. Much love & gratitude.” - Terri, Instructor/Owner of Meadows Method Pilates Studio*