What do you do when stuff gets in the way of writing goals and other life dreams? Stuff like... concussions. Ha. I bet you thought I'd say the other C-word: coronavirus. We'll get to that. (How could we not.)

But for now, I want to talk about what happens when you go to pick up your Nespresso coffee delivery from the local Purolator store, slip on the ice, hit the ground head first, bounce, then hit the ground—head first—again.

That was me, last month, about thirty minutes after I sent the last email you received from me. Here is a live-action replay:

 

After spending the night in the hospital with some lovely nurses and some truly wonderful drugs (holy hydromorphone!), I was sent home with a concussion and whiplash diagnosis, and thankfully no other damage.

But head injuries are nasty business. And it took me a while to get over the fogginess, headaches, and general crappiness that comes with concussions.

That's why you haven't heard from me in a while. I was busy trying not to use the computer and not go crazy—a near-impossible task.

I did manage to pick up my Nespresso coffee delivery before shit got real with COVID-19. I know it's been bad elsewhere for a while, but it got super-duper serious in my area in the last few weeks.

So what do you do when life, concussions, pandemics, homeschooling kiddos, lousy work-from-home "solutions," and toilet paper hoarding gets in the way of your writing goals, business, or other life dreams?

Here are the lessons I learned from my little vacay in Concussion-Ville, which I'm applying to the extended staycation on Corona Island:

1. It's okay to feel resentful, anxious, frustrated, or any other crappy feeling.

It's normal to feel crummy when life stops you in your tracks. When I had the concussion, I felt so resentful that external forces were ganging up to prevent me from working and writing.

 

Then COVID-19 went haywire, and external forces were screwing over everyone. And I realized I wasn't some special snowflake being picked on by the universe (or Purolator's poor ice-clearing efforts).

Then I felt guilty for being so self-centered when others were suffering far more.

Then I realized that the negative feelings don't determine who I am or what I can achieve. They're just feelings. Sometimes they suck, but I can survive them. And so can you.

2. Prioritize, and know it's temporary.

None of us know how long the pandemic will last. Even when we go through "regular" tragedies, like injuries and grief, for example, we don't know long those will take us down.

So when things interfere with your usual writing, business, or life routine, remember it's temporary and choose what to focus on for right now.

When the concussion was bad, I prioritized listening to Harry Potter on audiobook. It drowned out the anxious voices in my head and distracted me from looking at all the screens that surrounded me in every moment.

That was temporary, and now I can prioritize client work. Next week, I'll prioritize playing with my kiddo when his child care closes down.

Choose one priority, and know it's not forever. 

3. Reconnect with what matters

I have a client who, pandemics aside, had a really bad week. Her husband got a horrible diagnosis, her daughter spent some time in the hospital, and her puppy passed away. It was awful.

I'm helping her write her memoir, and here's some of the email she sent me:

"[All the crappiness] is, however, why I have chosen to write a memoir about surviving your own reality. I'm so very grateful for the clarity our work is bringing to my thoughts and ideas. It's a gift to share stories with others."

For her, going through "the bad" reminded her of what's important: sharing her story with others. So yes, she's distracted and busy, but she's also more committed than ever to sharing her writing.

Use this time to consider what's important to you. Maybe you can't work on it right now. That's okay; it's temporary, remember!

But reconnect with those ideas so, when some sense of normalcy resumes, you're ready to make your life mean something.

So what do you do when life stops you writing, working, and doing what you want?

  • You remember it’s okay to feel crappy and you’ll survive the negative emotions.

  • You prioritize, knowing you can get back other things when the world settles down.

  • And you reconnect with what matters.

It’s simple, but it sure as shit isn’t easy. If you're feeling all the bad things and want someone to connect with at this time, email me and let me know. We can jump on Zoom and shoot the breeze! No selling; just a sense of community.

Whether through books and stories or video calls and Facebook, we can be alone together.

Thanks,

Liz "Concussion Can't Keep Me Down" Green
Book Coach, Green Goose Writing