Pandemic Prizes
Even pandemics have prizes. It’s been a traumatic time for the world, but there have also been blessings. Here are the three P’s of my pandemic prizes.
1. PEACE
Since the pandemic started in mid-March 2020, I’ve had more quiet time at home. I’m an on-the-go gal, and resting at home has never been my style. The pandemic, though, has brought me a new, peaceful style. Fear comes when virus numbers surge, but I keep my peace. My tools?
Meditation: When the pandemic began, I started meditating morning and night. Since returning to work in September, I meditate in the morning and occasionally at night.
I listen to meditation videos and follow the guidance of meditation masters. Sometimes, I cry when I’m finished, often feeling grateful for God’s generous gifts. I usually end with a smile and thankful heart.
Quiet Time: The quiet time at home has contributed to my peace. I used to overpack my weekends with chores and errands. I also went to many cultural events. I plan to attend these again when performance venues are safe, but I’ll leave more space for rest.
A relaxed pace is practical, too. When I whirl through life, I miss its joy and depth. When I slow down, I notice what I’ve never seen, like the beauty of the tree outside my bedroom window. In the fifteen years that I’ve lived here, I saw the tree, but now I see it fully.
A few months ago, it was filled with leaves and singing birds. It’s now barren, but its bark is beautiful, and I feel joy looking at it.
I also noticed that a tree in my condo complex parking lot looks like an olive tree. It reminds me of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, which turns my thoughts to the spiritual realm. It’s God’s touch in the simple surroundings of my home.
When people used to ask me how I was doing, I usually said that I felt stressed. Now, I often say that I’m doing well, thanks to my pandemic peace.
2. PROSPERITY
Spiritual Prosperity: My relationship with God is my greatest prosperity. I feel blessed to believe in Jesus, and from meditating and reading the Bible daily, I feel closer to him and more aware of his gifts.
Financial Prosperity: Since the pandemic began, my expenses have been less. My shows and cruises were cancelled, and I got refunds. After schools closed due to the quarantine, I was on unemployment for six months. I returned to work in September and am happy to be earning paychecks again.
I’ve saved more since I’ve had fewer expenses, and I’ve realized the prosperity which I already had. I had traveled the last two and one-half years and was happier away from home than at home. After spending so much time at home during shelter-in-place, I now love my home.
I considered moving to a cheaper place, so that I wouldn’t have to pay off my mortgage and to earn a profit from the sale. I spent several months researching cities in other states and parts of California. I realized that I love where I live in Southern California and want to stay here. I looked at some properties near my home, but none of them worked for me.
Thus, I decided to stay in my home and do upgrades in it. I planned to do these for a buyer, but I did them for me! I got a new kitchen floor, couch and sofa chair, two comforters, and even new pajamas. My old versions of these ranged from 10 to 24-years-old!
I also committed to paying off my mortgage. My financial planner created a prudent plan for me to pay it off in three years. We split the amount into thirds. I paid the first third in 2020 and the first-half of the second third for 2021. I’ll pay the second half later this year and the final third in 2022. My mortgage balance is half what it was a few months ago. I’m grateful that I can stay in my beautiful home, on a golf course and close to the ocean.
The pandemic has also been a prosperous time for my investments. They first went down, but they rebounded, and now my savings and investments are higher than ever.
Time Prosperity: The pandemic has been a prolific time of writing. When I didn’t work, I wrote a children’s book and three short e-books. I’ll now work to publish those. I’ve written more blog posts, too, and I plan to write a new book.
I’m also healing from anorexia, and I’ve had more time to cook nutritious food, like salmon, which helps my recovery.
I thank God for this prosperity. My job is to be a wise, responsible steward of it, and for this, I diligently work and pray.
3. PERSPECTIVE
The pandemic has brought me more perspective about life. Due to all the deaths which have occurred, I’m more aware of the preciousness of life and fragility of being mortal.
I’m more grateful than ever to be alive and healthy, and to have relationships. I wish that I could be with friends and participate in groups and church in-person, but that time will come. Humanity will rebound, and a more normal life will resume.
Peace + Prosperity + Perspective = Progress. All of these prizes create progress, and my life is fuller than ever. I thank God for these gifts, and I pray that the world shifts from the pain of the pandemic to the prizes.
Jennifer K. Jordan
For more inspiration, please visit the Inspiring Wisdom Today Blog at www.InspiringWisdomToday.com/blog/.
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