My mom asked me...

I was talking to my mom, and told her, "I can't wait for things to be normal, I'm just so sick of this whole pandemic." My mom then asked me, "What do you want to do once things go back to normal?".

At first, I was offended by this question. I didn't understand what she meant by that. What do you mean? So much of my life had changed, and in a lot of ways, I can't wait for things to go back to normal.

While talking about it with my therapist, she had said that my mom's questions didn't necessarily have to come off in a way that's rude or offensive. She might have meant it in a way that was curious more than anything else. After thinking about it from that perspective, I actually got to thinking about what I really wanted to do once things got back to normal.

There were so many things that I took for granted pre-pandemic.

Now that things are finally starting to look hopeful in our country and around the world, and I am finally going to be eligible to get a vaccine at the end of this month, I have been doing a daily exercise thinking about things I want to do once I get vaccinated.

The first thing I want to do is get the chance to eat in an indoor restaurant. I've only eaten in an indoor restaurant twice in almost a year, and every time I've done so, I've felt immense anxiety and guilt afterwards. After I get vaccinated I'll be able to eat in a restaurant without the constant fear of potentially getting sick and then getting someone else sick. Not only that, but I know that after not eating in a restaurant for so long, I'm going to appreciate the experience so much more.

The second thing I want to do is go visit my friends without worrying about who they're hanging out with. While some of my friends have been really good about sticking to their little bubble, it's been a little difficult for me to hang out with them without worrying about my parents. After my household gets vaccinated, I'll just feel a lot more at ease. It'll be so nice to be able to socialize again! I've missed my friends so much over the last few months, and I know that I'll feel a lot less isolated when I can hang out with them again.

A random thing I've been wanting to do for the last year, but haven't done to do so is ice skate. I'm not entirely sure why? I just have always enjoyed ice skating, and had this urge to try to get good at ice skating, but since we only have indoor facilities close to me, I haven't been able to go to any in the past year! If they open up the facility in the summer, I will definitely go ice skating.

To be honest, anything I do once things start opening up fully and people continue to get vaccinated, I'm going to just feel much more grateful on my day to day life. As someone who had plans most weekends, and then have had almost none in the past year, I am just so excited for this summer! While it's not going to be 100% normal, I know for a fact it's going to be the most normal it's been in the past year.

Now tell me, what are you planning on doing post vaccination / once things slowly start opening up and going back to normal? I'm super curious what you miss doing the most! Let me know down below. As always, thank you for reading, I hope you have a wonderful day/night! Sending you strength, positivity, and love xx