Love In The Time Of Corona

Read on to feel the love that we all need during these times.

Brave essential care workers are fighting in the front lines every day. My personal friends who are doctors and nurses have been updating me on their days... and it's a type of war and challenge that most of us couldn't imagine, unless we're in the trenches, doing the work that they are doing.

They are wearing full armours while they fight the coronavirus. They get off long shifts, do their best to scrub themselves, fighting against something we can't see. They go home, afraid of bringing "it" to their families. Many of them, they worry about infecting their elderly parents, or their babies. It's the kind of choice and sacrifice that most of us will never have to make, or imagine.

We can easily say that all of our lives have been affected. Many of us are stressing over the death tolls, the number of illnesses, people's job and income losses, the uncertainty of the economy and the market.

These are the times that everyone could use extra love and positivity. These are the times when we need more connections than ever. Therefore, I compiled a list of the beautiful changes that these times have created in my life.

And when you're finished reading my list, I encourage your to share your list of love in the time of Corona, with the hashtag #LoveInTheTimeOfCorona.

(Paying my deep homage to one of my literary heroes, Gabriel García Márquez, author of Love In the Time of Cholera. However, no magic realism in this list. Life on its own is already magical).

1. Business: I've been self-quarantined for 3 weeks straight... yup, I haven't left my home for 3 weeks, not even a single step outside the building, except for being in my private patio. Yet, not much has changed in my life. Working is the same as it always has been. I'm so grateful that I made this pivot when I did, as once, I felt very stuck in limbo, being in corporate, and building what everyone told me was an "impossible business" - ie. life coaching, on the side. If I was still in a corporate job, life would certainly be very different. It reminded me that it was the right thing to do when I made the "final" cut. Quitting. Quit being a part-timer when I knew what I really wanted. It felt absolutely unreasonable and illogical at the time, but I listened to my small voice at the time, and now, when I look back, it was the absolute right thing to do. The business I've been building (completely online) has proven to be a great gift.

2. Eating: Having cooked meals delivered was always my desire, ever since I became very busy with my practice, which is the next best to having a private chef (my next level aim). With this pandemic, businesses have really come together to cater to this service, which wasn't as prominent in my local area before. I imagine this pattern will continue as a new norm, and I will continue to use the service, even when this is over.

3. Kids: My kids are blossoming. They are being themselves again, away from peer pressure, and often chaotic, toxic, unruly environment of crowded classrooms and school. They explore their interests. They are relaxed. They are being themselves, because every day, they can, and they don't need to pretend or wear a mask. Boys don't need to be resilient against being potentially called "gay." It's shocking that this still happens in the new, more "aware" generation, but it's still there. Girls stopped their social power play in their unique versions of "mean girls." With school being canceled, the fuse and the source of this intense, unnecessary stress has been powered off. My desire is that this interruption will create a reset in the social dynamics in this new generation, for the better.

4. Family: My kids are showing up and cleaning up, helping out, helping themselves to heating up meals. As parents, in quarantine and being nose-to-nose with our family, we really get to see now who are the humans we helped to co-create. We stay up late talking. We wake up and connect again. Then, I disappear to work, and even though it's been at times challenging (they get bored), but so lovely! Sibling connection has been stronger than ever. They are often in their own world talking, playing, negotiating, and discussing.

5. Evolving: Pulling back from the daily pattern made me stop and think a lot more clearly about the direction I'm taking my work. Due to the busyness of doing the work that is in front of my nose, for 6 months, I sat on the idea of pivoting my business, but did not push on it. Right now, I'm pivoting towards my new direction, and it feels awesome, and absolutely aligned with my next level growth.

6. Friendship: I've also been talking to friends more often. Between having kids, a painful separation 8 years ago, then hustling to build and accelerate my career, I've lost touch with many friends. I've been having more frequent chats with my best friend, and more chats with friends I lost touch with over the years. These are friends from university, and many friends from my teen years and my early 20's. My friends have become doctors, corporate executives, and professionals, incredible humanitarians, have found the love of their life, and it's so amazing to see how far all of us have come. I'm incredibly grateful for this. I've also had neighbours being kind, checking in on us, and offering all kinds of kind gestures. True love is in the air.

7. Heart: At the deepest, most personal level, I've been tied up with my career and business growth and raising two fabulous humans who are now tweens, for the last 8 years. I've been single for most of those 8 years by choice, declining many requests. With the disruption of these times and slowing down, I'm opening up to the possibility of a wonderful relationship from a healthy, grounded place, as my next chapter. It takes great self-love and certainty to build your own solid life with your children without the need for someone, and it takes even greater self-love and certainty to evolve past that.

What about you? What are you grateful for? How did the life of Corona change you for the better? I'd love to know. #LoveInTheTimeOfCorona

About the Author:

Julia Cha is a best-selling author and a success coach for women leaders ready to shatter glass ceilings. With her expertise in subconscious transformation, she guides her clients to create their dream life in all aspects: a thriving career, financial abundance, and supportive relationships.

Learn more: www.juliacha.com

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