I’m having a really hard time coming up with something to write about this month.
I think I’ve started and restarted this blog about 9 times over the past several days and I can’t seem to land on anything that feels relevant and relatable. It doesn’t feel right to stay silent about what’s going on in our country. At the same time, taking a mental break from the pandemic and the intensity of the current political divide feels critical to my mental health and my ability to find a meaningful way to show up.
The sun just came out and I’m sitting on my laptop in front of a window. My husband Mark is working on his computer a few feet away. We have music playing on Spotify, and our dog is sleeping peacefully at our feet. I feel an incredible sense of privilege and gratitude. The only thing missing in this moment is the right topic for this Mind Your Mind Central Oregon blog.
Maybe minding my mind today means being in the moment and not trying to figure out the right things to say. Maybe I’m experiencing a lesson in mindfulness, humility and grace. Maybe I need to just “be” for a moment today, without expectations for myself and assumptions about others. Maybe this pause will help bring a little more clarity to my perception of what’s going on around me and how I might respond. Maybe, I’ve said “maybe” far too many times in this post and that just makes me chuckle and I won’t try to fix it.
It’s funny that writing all of this down has given me a sense of peace and relief. I think I’ll give myself permission to leave it at that. Here’s a quote from an article I found that justifies this blog about nothing in particular.
“No matter how out-of-control your day is, no matter how stressful your job or life becomes, the act of being present can become an oasis. It can change your life, and it’s incredibly simple.”
— The Amazing Power of Being Present, Zen Habits
Thanks for bearing with me today. Take good care of yourselves, I’ll try and do the same.
Linda Quon is Vice President and Director of Communication at Quon Design and Communication. Linda is working to promote everyday mental health awareness in partnership with Deschutes County Health Services and Central Oregon Health Council — which includes providers and health advocates from Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes Counties. Linda was born and raised in Southern California and moved to Central Oregon with her husband and two children in 2005. Her mother lived with Schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder and her oldest brother also experienced bi-polar disorder. With support from family, friends, therapists and primary care providers, Linda has been navigating the world of mental illness most of her life — including her own struggles with mild anxiety and depression. Linda is proud to work as an advocate for mental health and a blogger for Mind Your Mind Central Oregon.