#100) The Pandemic ~ One Year Later

~ Happiness in the Midst of All Adversity ~

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I was driving down 1st Street yesterday - March 10, 2021 - and a sign above a local bar captured my eye:


‘A YEAR AGO THIS WAS OUR LAST NORMAL DAY AND NOBODY KNEW IT’

What a sign, right?

Our last normal day...

Yes, Goodbye to normalcy. One year ago.

That’s because, today - one year ago - a global pandemic was formally declared.

And with that formal declaration, the world as everyone knew it… changed forever.

Whether or not that nasty and sticky little coronavirus touched us personally, every single human being on this planet has been affected in some way or another. And we all continue to be. The ripple effects - monstrous. The waves - continue.

But there’s just something strange about marking one year. One year of anything life changing, really. It reminds me - in a very somber way - of the sad and solemn anniversaries that come round each year on September 11th.

But while, every year, on September 11th, I am extremely sad - today, I am not.

Today - I am happy. Truly happy. 

Religiously - happy.

Rejoicing. Happy.

Happy to be alive.

Happy to have survived this past year intact.

Happy for everything I have learned.

Happy with how my life has changed over the course of the pandemic year.

Grateful for everything.

Grateful for everyone.

Thankful for everything and everyone I said hello to. And met this past year.

Thankful for everything and everyone I had to say goodbye to over this past year.

So, today, just for kicks, and since I deleted Twitter just the other day, I went ahead and removed some apps from my phone that I was - well - pretty sour with, let’s just say. While I deleted Twitter entirely, I deleted the following apps today and still have accounts as of today - Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Facebook Business, and Facebook Messenger.

Goodbye.

I decided the benefits of having the apps themselves did not outweigh the risk. I decided I will need to reach all these sites with a browser, and not an app any longer.

But these are very easy decisions for me. Because I’ve said Goodbye lots of things these past years…

Farewell smiles.

Hello masks and face shields and gloves.

Goodbye toilet paper.

Hello hand sanitizer.

Goodbye in-person meetings.

Hello Zoom.

Goodbye Kirk Douglas, Kobe Bryant, Kenny Rogers.

Hello Dr. Fauci.

Goodbye job. Goodbye Etsy shop.

Hello new job.

Goodbye neighbors.

Hello new neighbors.

Goodbye friends.

Hello new friends.

Goodbye routine.

Hello new routine.

Goodbye entertainment.

Hello new entertainment.

And - Goodbye 2020.

Hello 2021.

And now that we’re well on our way into 2021, and seeing this beautiful new year unfold before us, I wonder… What will we see Goodbye to this year? What miracles await us? What excitement awaits? What dreams will fall from the Heavenly clouds and into our minds and hearts?

So, while September 11th will always and forever be sad to me, and the tears always roll down my cheeks, no matter how hard I fight them. Today, March 11th, every year, I will always remind myself to be happy. 

Because happiness reigns in my heart as I mark this one year anniversary. And happiness is what I have made of this past year.

Because, if there’s anything great, noble, big, and phenomenal, that this pandemic has taught me... it’s that nobody can take my happiness away. No matter how bad the world gets. I am in control. I know the course I’m headed. With Mercy and Comfort in my heart. Faith - intact. And my beliefs - unwavered. I am the one who makes ME happy. I am the one who steers my own ship. And I am the one who lives my life. Nobody else can do it for me. Nobody else is going the same way. And nobody can take any of it away from me ~ unless I let them.

So, as they say - COME AND TAKE IT. ~

(Photo Dated: 3.10.2021)

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Author:

Christine Pieper is an Artist, Lifestyle Blogger and Vlogger - living, writing, painting, and filming in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, with her hubby and nine year old puppy. She made a major life change in 2017 by uprooting and moving from Illinois to the Sunshine State, and has been living her best life in Florida since - detailing all her many and varied adventures living and traveling the Deep South to share with you here. Her mission is to help you live YOUR best life - by getting out there, going for it, and making that big change you always dreamed of. Christine will inspire you to get over yourself, show up for yourself, and get out of your own way. The only one stopping you - is YOU.

*To catch all of Christine’s Floridian Dreams, just bookmark this site, and check out her YouTube Channel while you’re at it - why don’t ya?

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