How (Not) to Lose Your Mind in Quarantine
Quick CGA Fundraising Update:
I’m currently about 58% funded, with $3,497 raised out the total $5,950. My next deadline is to reach $4k by March 30th.I need 10 faithful givers to partner with with me at $50!
Greetings from Gainesville, Georgia! To all my faithful supporters and those following my journey back in my home of Louisiana, I want to start by letting you all know that I am okay and I am safe here in Gainesville. Second, my heart and prayers go out to my family, friends and community in Lake Charles; with Louisiana quickly becoming host to one of the fastest spreading outbreaks of COVID-19, I pray wisdom and discernment over the governing bodies and leadership as they make hard choices in the coming days. I pray for supernatural protection over families big and small as we navigate this situation day by day.
While many businesses here in Gainesville, GA have begun to shut their doors, there is no shelter-in-place order so far and people still have the freedom to move about, although I would say most people are staying home. Now, what does all this mean for me in CGA?
Since the AIM office closed down as of 03/16, the other CGA apprentices and I have been strongly encouraged to remain at h home while classes have continued online with video chat between the different CGA houses and the instructors.
Here you can see the other three CGA houses as well as Ben Able, our main instructor, in the top left (excuse the random tissue)
Each morning I join my two CGA housemates, Carter and Taylor on the couch and we join the video chat to connect with the other CGA houses.
Speaking of Carter and Taylor, introductions are in order!
Close up on the left there is Taylor. __ years old and from Michigan, he enjoys fishing, board games, history, and wants to open a smoothie/board game cafe as a form of ministry.
In the middle isCarter. 23 years old, he currently calls North Carolina his home. He loves movie nights, teaching, and has a huge heart for the Arab world. He hopes to someday do some long term mission work in the middle east.
As the only three guys in this CGA class, we have definitely gotten to know each other pretty well in the last two months. I couldn’t ask for two better men to lock shields with in this season.
Now, CGA is largely discussion based. We work through things as a group, supporting each other as we grow together. While no longer meeting in the classroom has certainly had its drawbacks, in a somewhat upside down way it has also been a blessing. CGA is all about knowing yourself so that you can lead yourself, and leading yourself so that you can lead others.
Now, the local part-time job I picked up has closed down, and I only have class from about 9 – noon on most days. THAT much free time is a recipe for a bunch of napping and Netflix if I ever heard one! BUT, there is an alternative…..
No clear end in sight, with very little imposed structure to my daily routine; could there possibly be a better chance to practice stewarding myself and my time well?!
I now see this as a God given opportunity to practice what I am learning, to LEAD MYSELF.
I don’t have a morning commute anymore. So I could…
a) sleep in an extra 45 minutes
b) wake up at the same time and spend more time in the Word
My part time job closed down. Now I can…
a) binge watch The Office for the 3rd time
b) spend extra time processing the mind bending self-reflection questions from class.
Still some more free time? I could…
a) scroll through Facebook and Instagram
b) start one of the four reading assignments I have right now.
Sticking to a routine, despite being at home all day, is an amazing way to steward yourself both mentally and physically. If, like me, you find yourself feeling zero motivation to get anything done after a couple unstructured lazy days in quarantine, then this would be super good for you!
I AM NOT SAYING ALL WORK AND NO PLAY.
Just find something you enjoy that doesn’t involve a screen for part of the day, that‘s all.
Make a simple checklist, a list of just 5 or 6 things to get done each day. If you are still able to work from home (that’s an awesome blessing!) then maybe knock it down a bit. The list should be a few activities that are constructive, like a DIY project you’ve been putting off, making a grocery run, and also a few activities/hobbies that bring you life, such as playing an instrument, painting, writing, etc. You do you, as long as that doesn’t mean binge watching anything. Just because something is entertaining, that does not mean it is life giving. I’m not hating on Netflix, but there is definitely a healthy way to enjoy it, and an unhealthy way.
For example, my list looks like this:
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wake up with time to eat and read devo before class
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don’t do class in my pajamas, actually get dressed (all about mindset)
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spend 1 or more hours on guitar/songwriting (life giving!)
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spend 1 or more hours on reading assignment (constructive)
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no more than 2 hours of TV (unless I’m enjoying a movie with friends)
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Do some kind of exercise
Now, have I essentially worn pajamas for the video chat a couple times? Of course. Have I read my bible every day before class? NOPE, I definitely woke up 5 minutes before class several times, I’m not much of a morning person. Did I overdo Netflix and Disney+ my first few days at the house? Absolutely, and then I felt lousy and drained and numb, so then I followed leadership’s advice and put together this list. It’s changed a little each day as I have found what is realistic and what isn’t, or when I have been out of the house a large chunk of the day helping with some AIM stuff or serving at the local soup kitchen. Some days I’ll spend a little time on fundraising (my next deadline is March 30th, I have about $500 to go!) or today I decided it was about time I wrote another blog.
I don’t know if it’s the extrovert in me, the Type 9, the ENFP, or the whatever (if you have no idea what I’m talking about, don’t worry, it’s a millennial thing) but when I don’t feel any purpose in my day-to-day I start to collapse in on myself like a dying star. I love a good restful, lazy day alone, but I can do like 1.5 of those max before, I’m like “Ok, that was fun, but now what?”
I love people. I’m iron and I need some more iron to sharpen myself on. I want to see people around me laugh (or roll their eyes) at my dad jokes. I thrive when I am in a group of people and we all know that we have full permission to just live life together, whatever that looks like. I’m super blessed to be living out this season with my CGA fam; the word “class” just doesn’t quite suffice.
Thank you so much for reading! Please pray about supporting me financially as I continue this amazing program even in quarantine.
I would like to invite you to make my journey, your journey! Here are three simple ways:
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The most important, PRAY.
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