Happy Friday Virtus Family.

Does anyone else feel that over the last few weeks, in particular, each day has moulded into one?

After almost 7 months of lockdown, I'm definitely feeling the effects of the monotonous existence we have been living. Without the normal escapades of football games, days at work, beers with our mates, dinners with friends, excursions outside of our 5km radius, I'm feeling a little melancholy & it seems to be somewhat universal, especially in metropolitan Melbourne.

The escapes of a morning walk, a run every other day, and expeditions to the beach or the shops are finally losing their moderate levels of excitement, I can't even pretend anymore that I am enjoying them the same way I did a few months ago, but I'm still ticking those boxes because I know they are helping, even if it's only a little bit.

It's a trap that is easy to fall into, to just show up, to go through the motions & float through our days. COVID or not, I'm sure we can all look back to times when weeks or even months have been chewed up by a mindset that just isn't interested in enjoying the brilliance life has to offer.

The numbness, indifference, apathy that you feel during this time are symptoms of 'Everydayness' and this is a difficult thing to work through, but if we are aware of it, and we want to work through it, it's a hole we can dig ourself out of with a little bit of understanding and hard work.

Everydayness is the way we get so immersed in the routines and roles of our daily existence that we never experience full consciousness of who we are and what choices are available to us.

This is an understandable place to be after 7 months of frustration, anxiety, uncertainty and unprecedented lockdowns and restrictions. It's easy to fall into a sleepy state when you're doing the same thing every day. What I'm saying is, that if you feel this way, it's not your fault.

However, If you feel this way, it is up to you what you do about it.

You can choose to be a victim to circumstance, or you can choose to make the most of this period and embrace each challenge you've faced. Life isn't fair, so we have to play the best game we can with the cards that we have been dealt.

I certainly don't know all the answers to completely shifting this feeling to one of excitement, appreciation and purpose but I do know a step that will help you start moving in the right direction.

I want you to ask yourself three questions and answer them with some real, heartfelt answers.

The first question is related to the past, the second is related to the present and the last is related to the future. If you answer each one, I guarantee that feeling of apathy and indifference will begin to shift to one of enjoyment and anticipation. (if you don't email me back & I'll give you a full refund)

Allow yourself a few minutes to think about & answer each of these questions. Or if you enjoy the melancholy, don't.

Question One
What are the challenges you've had to face & have you learnt from them?

Question Two
What are 30 things you're grateful for right now? (Write them down)

Question Three
What are you looking forward to in the future? What do you need to do to prepare for this?

The beautiful thing about these questions is that we don't need to know all of the answers right now but have a crack and the answers you give will help you take a step in the right direction.

That single step can be enough to keep you moving forward.

If we keep moving forward, we will eventually get where we want to be.
Onwards

Wallace