Life is a precious gift – a gift we often take for granted until it is threatened. – LeCrae

You don’t really know how much you love someone or how much you can’t stand them until you’re locked down with them 24/7 for weeks on end.

Everything in life can be viewed as a blessing or a curse. You decide.

I’m used to having a partner who has a mission. He’s always on the go. He’s a man on a mission and without one he can be rather irritating.

I must admit there were days where he was driving me crazy. With no job to go to and no mission to complete he decided to commandeer my choice spot on the couch in the corner with the fluffy blanket.WTF? That’s MY spot. Why am I working while you watch TV and eat ice cream???

The first few weeks I was entirely irritated. Why are you in my space? Why don’t I have any alone time? Why aren’t you going anywhere or doing anything (even if I know he couldn’t it was still irritating). I can’t run. I can’t watch my stupid TV shows. I can’t plan my days.

But, as time went on I began to realize that we rarely have time together. For sixty five percent (65%) of our relationship he’s been gone. In no time he’ll be deployed again.

#1. No Matter What Happens Your Reactions are Your Choice

You can’t control what’s going on right now. You can’t control the fact that we’re all stuck inside with few ways to blow off steam. You can’t control that you might be socially isolated. You can’t control that your job has laid you off.  You can’t control the fact that you have to spend days upon days with someone who you normally spend hours with.

So, what can you control?

You can control your thoughts and your reactions.

Instead of focusing on how awful things are or how deprived you are or how scary the unknown is you can choose to focus on the good, as nominal as it might be.

For now, I get to sleep with him every night. I get to wake up next to him every morning. I get to share my life with someone who make me laugh when I’m feeling frustrated and irritated.

Soon enough he’ll be gone again. Why would I focus on being mad that he’s in my space?  Why would I focus on the fact that he listens to the TV super loud (even with the door shut) when I’m trying to sleep?  Why would I focus on the fact that I have to work while he gets to lay around?

Life is what you make of it. It’s okay to be be frustrated and irritated (it’s a natural human reaction) but how does that emotion serve you?

Be okay with having feelings, but don’t get stuck and attached to them and don’t let them run your life or your experiences.

#2. Don’t Take Your Partner For Granted

It’s easy to take your partner for granted and assume they’ll always be there for you.

The truth of the matter is you don’t know how long you’re here for. You don’t know when your life will be snuffed out. People have lost their seemingly healthy loved ones in a matter of weeks.

You’re here for a limited time.

Enjoy the time you have. Enjoy just being next to each other. Enjoy the freedom you have right now to NOT work or to NOT feel pressured by society.

Things will return to normal in time.

Be kind to your partner. Be kind to yourself. Use this period to assess whether you’re doing enough to make your partner happy.

If you can’t survive being locked in with your partner for six weeks you probably need to rethink your relationship.

#3.  Stop Taking Life For Granted

There are so many things we take for granted. Seeing, hearing, walking, talking, eating, smelling, breathing.

When are you going to look around and realize that you have it so much easier than most?

When are you going to stop feeling sorry for yourself because you don’t have the “perfect life” or the “perfect car” or the “perfect job” or the “perfect relationship”?

I know that as an American I’m so spoiled.  I grew up with the basic necessities of life. There are others in this world (and even in this country) who don’t have that. They don’t have running water or enough food to eat.

COVID has forced us to stay in. It has forced us to rethink community and caring for others as much as we care for ourselves. Most of us aren’t staying in the house because we fear getting sick. We fear we may infect others.

So, if you can have that much caring for others, have that much caring for yourself. Stop worrying. You were put on this earth for a specified period and unfortunately you never know when that period will end.

My significant other has walked on land mines without them blowing up. We both believe when its your time its yur time. Unfortunately, you can’t control when your time has come.Don’t  take life for granted.