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by Lisa Mate (Author)
When the clock struck midnight on January 1st, 2020 we had no idea the challenges that we were to face that year.
News of a worldwide Pandemic and ordered shelter in place with only essential services operational spread like wildfire creating uncertainly and fear of the unknown.
I am an empath, a seeker of positivity and each day those emotions depleted with every news report and indefinite isolation.
I felt the need to hold myself accountable to hang onto that gratitude by sharing our personal journey on social media everyday, and everyday finding the gratitude within those challenges.
As with all children, on March 17th, my Autistic son was sent home for remote learning. Their routines disrupted and desperately needed services came to a screeching halt. He requires 1:1 instruction and that became my priority.
A few days later, all non essential businesses were closed, indefinitely. The self employed were left with no income until months later when unemployment was approved for us. I am self employed.
My husbands office closed and he was working remotely, as were most people, for over a year.
My sons Autism requires structure, routine and services to thrive. All of those necessities were gone leaving a confused, scared and anxious child resulting in uncontrollable behaviors that required love, patience and priority. He feared this virus taking me away from him. So much so that his worries effected his entire being. I am his person.
I found myself as mom, wife, teacher, therapist, confidant and business owner while my 93 year old mom recuperated from a life threatening surgery in a nursing home.
Nursing homes were being hit hard by this virus and taking many loved ones with it. The responsibilities and concerns became overwhelming.
Each day I sought out something, anything, to be grateful for. With no where to go we spent a lot of our time outdoors after remote learning. We soaked up the sun, blue skies, hearing the birds chirping, looking for someone, anyone to be out walking, loving sidewalk chalk messages of hope, seeing hearts in window, smiling at fellow walkers while keeping our distance and looking for the helpers. Some days I had to dig deep, very deep, for gratefulness.
It was in those moments, days, and months that we worked through the seemingly impossible and missed seeing our loved ones as we watched the world crumble to illness and countless deaths.
As my prose merely began as a way to hold MYSELF accountable from falling through the cracks, I found that many not only began following my stories but looking forward to them. So much so that I was encouraged to put them into a book to help others see the positivity in the most challenging of times while navigating isolation and Autism.
My goal is help bring the sun into your cloudiest of days through commonality, gratitude, positivity and mindfulness.
