Day of Hope #91
Monday July 13 – Day of Hope #91
Goal: Have the best day ever and stay six feet apart
Quote: “We are in this together and we will get through this together.” – United Nations Sectary
All my Days of Hope are special in their own way, but this one was especially fun and productive, with a beautiful balance of purpose and play.
I started the day by sleeping in, then dove straight into working on my book. I wrote all morning, which, honestly, was exhausting. Writing a book is a dream come true, but during a year like this, it also felt overwhelming at times. One day, it will be finished. But for now, it’s one chapter at a time.
Around 2 pm, I dropped my son off at work and headed over to my friend’s house for what we called the “Best Day Ever.” Even in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, we found a way to stay connected, carefully. We stayed outside, kept at least six feet apart, and gave each other air hugs instead of real ones. It was hard not to embrace the people we love, but we were committed to staying safe. So many had already lost their lives, and we didn’t want to take any chances.
She had set up the most amazing patio space, complete with a “Best Day Ever” cloth sign hanging between the tables which is our little tradition. Every time we get together, we say, “This is the Best Day Ever,” and we have a sign to prove it.
She served barbequed shrimp over a fresh salad, paired with Alabama Slammers and a cookie for dessert. It was perfect. We sat at opposite sides of the patio, talking, laughing, even shedding a few tears. Even though we were distanced, it felt like closeness.
Afterward, I headed home, wrapped up a few work tasks, and got back to writing. I knew I had to kick it into gear as my roommates were returning the next day, and I had to pack up all my writing materials. One day, I hope to have a dedicated space where I can leave my work out and not worry about things being moved or misplaced.
Before bed, I went out for a walk to hit my step goal and added 2,500 more steps to reach my lucky number: 13,000. I did it. I ended the day feeling full in every sense of the word.
My lesson of hope: Blending productivity with play on a Day of Hope is a beautiful way to recharge. You don’t have to choose between getting things done and having fun, sometimes the magic happens when you do both.
