Month: March 2020

Plan On It

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I went from having the busiest year I could remember – from weddings to birthday parties to bachelorette weekends.

And now, they’ve been mostly cancelled due to coronavirus.

And although it’s a weird sensation, no one is more upset than the brides and birthday people. I feel horrible for them.

But in the beginning verses of “What Sarah Said” by Death Cab for Cutie, “Plans are just tiny prayers to Father Time.”

So, in a way, we are all just praying to Father Time that our luck doesn’t run out and we get to go to that wedding or birthday party. That we’ll have time to do the things we want to do – like write a novel or see our grandchildren.

The problem is that it takes a crisis for us to realize that we don’t have that kind of time on our hands. And all our prayers to Father Time could fall on deaf ears.

So, when this is all over, remember to hug everyone extra tight. All we are doing is sending up prayers that we’ll have time to plan things and execute them.

In this time, more than ever, we have to recognize when those plans fall apart that it isn’t anyone’s fault – just a prayer that goes unanswered.

Love,

Bailey

The Heart is a Muscle

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I’ve been spending a lot of time with my heartbeat lately. Noticing the way my heart races when I run up the stairs and thumps loudly, and the way it slows way down when I fall asleep. How I can hear my partner’s heartbeat when I lay on his chest, steadying me.

And even metaphorically, our hearts are a guiding force, a navigating compass in a wide, dark sea. When you follow your heart’s desires, when you do anything out of love. That is when we use our “heart.”

But it serves as a good reminder that our heart is a muscle, both literally and figuratively speaking. And without use, it grows atrophied and into disrepair.

Don’t forget to exercise and help your heart pump blood. But also don’t forget to be compassionate, and use your heart that way, to help others and yourself.

The heart is a muscle. It beats and beats away the darkness.

Love,

Bailey

 

ANNOUNCEMENT

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Surprised to hear from me on a Sunday?

This is to announce that since I am working hot and heavy on my novel, The Season Sisters, I will be posting excerpts from my novel on the weekends.

So, regular BaileyDailey content Mon-Thurs, but new novel content on Fri-Sun.

Hope you all like it!

🙂

Love,

Bailey

Talking to Myself

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Now that I don’t have any coworkers or other things (I say “things” because I do talk to things now and again) to talk to, I’ve started talking to myself.

And the craziest thing is that I answer!

No, in all seriousness, I am of the mind that talking to yourself will actually keep you sane, even though all evidence is to the contrary, because when you talk to yourself, everyone labels you as crazy.

For me, when I talk to myself, it is mostly to keep myself organized. Like a TV show Chef, I am walking through the steps out loud so I don’t miss anything. And it actually helps me do things. It helps me stay focused and remember where I’m going with an action because my mind is working on forming and saying the steps at the same time.

And sometimes, I am the best company that I could ever ask for.

Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself!

What about you? Do you talk to yourself when no one is around?

Reply in the comments!

Ctrl

Bailey GunnLeave a comment

Right now, everything seems like it’s a bit out of hand. The number of hours you spend in front of a screen of any kind, the way people are grocery shopping, the number of times you look in the fridge just to see if “there are any snacks.”

Everything seems to be out of your control, or CTRL as I like to call it.

But it is at these times that focusing on things that are in your control is most helpful to keep anxiety down and a sense of well-being up.

So, let’s practice:

Coronavirus? Out of your control. No, really. It is. Completely out of yours and, everyone else’s, control.

Coronavirus in your home? In your control. Because you can wash your hands, wash surfaces, and generally social distance from everyone around you.

Work from home? Out of your control. You didn’t decide that you had to work from home. Coronavirus did. (And if you’d like to see if coronavirus is in your control, please see the the first line.)

Work from home routine? In your control. Make a promise to yourself that you’ll get up on time everyday and change out of those pajamas, and generally stick to your old normal.

Closed schools? Out of your control. Did you decide to close schools? No, your elected officials did.

Homeschooling? In your control. Well, as much as teaching a child can be called “in control.”

So, whatever you are doing during this self-quarantine, don’t worry about things out of your control. Look around and see what you can do that is in your control. I promise you’ll feel way better.

Love,

Bailey

P.S. I’m sorry if I’m focusing too much on COVID-19 lately. But it’s kinda on everyone’s minds, including mine. I’ll try to keep distracting you from the outside world as much as possible in future posts.

P.P.S.

Love,

Me again

Even Penguins

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Maybe I’ve spent too much time online or maybe… no, that’s probably it.

But have you ever seen penguin videos where the penguins are walking along and, all of a sudden, they fall head over flippers? These creatures, who are so graceful in the water, have such a hard time on land. Granted, it is icy snow that they are trying to walk on. But still.

And then it hit me. Even penguins who spend their life out of the water, walking around and tripping; animals that have lived in the tundra for years upon years, who have readily adapted to this lifestyle; birds who walk and slide, instead of fly…

They still mess up sometimes too.

So, even if you’re really good at something, I mean, really good at it, you can still mess up sometimes. So, try to remember the next time you try something new and it doesn’t go so hot.

Maybe you just shine elsewhere.

Love,

Bailey

 

Lazy

Bailey Gunn2 Comments

If you’re like me and you’re abiding by the CDC rules, then you’ve been in your house for a few days. Which results in a few of the following:

  1. Sleeping and spending your day in your pajamas
  2. Not putting on make-up or otherwise brushing your hair
  3. Eating multiple meals over the course of the day

And if you’re like me, you also took advantage of the weekend and slept for many hours. (I think I woke up at noon on Sunday and I have no regrets.)

It’s easy, then, to feel like you’re being a bit lazy with yourself. But I can assure you, if you are anything like me, then you’re also a hardworker. So, a little laziness is to be expected, especially when you’re not allowed to do much of anything during this confusing, and horrifying time.

But how do I know if I’m being too lazy?

Well, that’s up for you to decide. It’s probably in between doing nothing and doing the dishes.

Just do you!

Love,

Bailey

Take Breaks

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In the early days of this isolation, it’s always key to be mindful of tips that will increase the stamina of your…well, mind.

So, if you’re like me and you are on the internet all day, then you need to do me a favor and remember to TAKE. BREAKS.

On social media all day comparing yourself to everyone? TAKE A BREAK

On the coronavirus alert system to see what shenanigan is going on now? TAKE A BREAK

Working at home for hours on end? TAKE A BREAK

Eating a kit kat? TAKE A BREAK

Everyone’s anxious and everyone’s scared. And we’re all flocking to the internet to try distract, whine, cry, and be anxious together.

So, try to take breaks. You would if isolation didn’t keep you inside, so don’t forget to do it now.

Love,

Bailey

Stop the World

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The headlines right now make it feel like the world is stopping. And it feels like that too.

Barely anyone outside, minimal cars rolling by and that’s just what I can see outside of my window as I work from home.

It makes you feel like you’re living in a bubble.

But before you melt into the couch, know that it doesn’t have to be that way.

I mean, yes absolutely, practice social distancing. But you can still participate in your life online. Via social media you can still connect to your friends and family, and that can keep you from feeling isolated when you’re alone.

But above all:

Remember:

That everything is going to be okay. We might have a new normal for awhile. But at the end of it, we’re going to be okay.

How do I know that?

Because I have to believe that, that’s why.

Love,

Bailey

Captive Audience

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Hello world!

Since you’re all a captive audience (because what else are you going to do when you’re stuck at home 24 hours a day) but read things on the internet!

And so we’re here.

So, allow me to dazzle you with some fun facts about me:

I love licking the sticky part of envelopes.

I was a double major in college, which I am very proud of.

I am double jointed in my jaw.

I kissed the Blarney stone but did not get the gift of gab.

My favorite color is yellow.

So, now it’s your turn! Give me 5 fun facts about you in the comments.

Like I said, what else are you going to do?

Love,

Bailey