Day 9: Stay Present🎁

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Day 9 of Quarantine: Stay Present Total cases (US): 54856 Total deaths(US): 780

I would like to mention that tomorrow (today) is my uncle Kevin's birthday. When you are reading this, it will be March 25th. I would describe Kevin as being optimistic, sentimental, and thoughtful. Today I want to share with you the basics of these qualities and how you can apply them to your life.

I was asking my mom about optimism and she said, "I have skied with many different kinds of people. People that are great skiers but they're too self-critiquing, ones who only care about speed, and those who just want to make it down the black diamond. However, Kevin is enthusiastic which is contagious and you can't help be happy when you ski with him." Kevin doesn't have to ski beautifully and he doesn't have to ski the fastest. Instead of being focused on skiing the hardest run, he has joy and this goes with everything in life. Two years ago, when there was little snow, Kevin was riding up a chairlift with us. If you looked down, the ground was all dirt and not the best skiing conditions but Kevin didn't mind. He was fixated on the art and sport of skiing. This year, Kevin found himself skiing in an excess of powder. If you practice concentrating on joy and finding the good, it will make you happier and will be contagious (almost like Coronavirus).

When many of us think about Kevin, the first word that comes to mind is sentimental. Everyone has the potential to show this trait but Kevin incorporates detail. He is very present and is appreciative of the smallest things. Then, he is able to recall each small detail because of his awareness. Not only is it entertaining but Kevin's nostalgic qualities can remind each of us to focus on today and the moment. I encourage you to find this trait within yourself and give it a try. Being sentimental is an important thing in today's world.

When it comes to experiences, gifts, or quality time, Kevin is thoughtful. Anyone who has spent time around Kevin knows that he has put a lot of thought and care into everything. An example of this is when we went to Kevin's house for Easter last year. It didn't feel much like a holiday since we woke up in our hotel and there was no hint of Easter's traditions. When we arrived at Kevin's house, he had an egg hunt and baskets waiting for Reed and me. This was a very thoughtful act especially since he was already being our taxi and hosting a wonderful Easter lunch. I think his sincerity is linked to enthusiasm like when we go to a Cubs game and Kevin shows us the best place for a hotdog. Whether it is finding one of Kevin's books in the mail or riding a snowcat up to Beano's Cabin, I have always appreciated Kevin's thoughtfulness.

Stay present,

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