By Nina Joss
April 15
It’s not just being stuck in place that’s hard, but maybe even more so, stuck in time. I wasn’t planning on living in Michigan for more than maybe two or three weeks this summer. I’m starting to get used to it here—it’s easy for me to readapt to home. But I’m 21—I should be moving forward, living new experiences, having a life of my own. But it’s hard to plan in this. It’s hard to move forward when you’re stuck in time.
Maybe we need to get over this urge to always be moving forward.
March 25
It’s like life is totally on hold. Looking forward at my calendar is so bizarre because there’s literally nothing set or present for MONTHS. It’s never like that.
It makes it a lot easier to live in the moment, though. I’m usually looking forward and counting down all of the time. In this space, I have no choice but to be here, now.
April 28
thank you, God,
for this momentary pause.
for forcing us to shut up when we refuse to be quiet.
for the action outside, thunder and lightening
when being in here starts to feel too still.
thank you for this purposeful pause
for making us breathe and realize it. we sometimes forget to realize the miracle that we are breathing.
for the time and a chance to reevaluate, reposition, reframe, reflect, regroup,
rejuvenate.
so that hopefully, after all this, we can go forward in new
and loving
strength for each other.