A new Beginning…

During this time of isolation , I’ve found myself getting lost in the free hours I’ve so longed and prayed for. These quiet moments of stillness have brought my heart and soul much needed peace amidst the chaos.

Having the opportunity to slow down, reflect and work on tasks and projects I’ve desired but in the past would continuously find their way to the bottom of my never ending to do lists.

I too had fallen prey to the webs of busyness and its lies. Reeled by partaking in this fast paced world, that feeds in it’s constant rush and unduly demanding of your attention.

My unhealthy habit of saturating my days with so many commitments and the inability to say no, clouding my mind and neglecting even myself in the process. Which is no surprise when I found myself facing extreme exhaustion, stress and illness.

It’s ironic when this crisis struck I was scheduled to fly out to Turkey and Germany the 20th of March, right about when we were imposed quarantine. My mind was already imagining and visualizing the opportunity to escape my busy world and miles away once again get lost in adventures and exploring new cultures.

As departure day was approaching I was left with the uncertainty whether I should be flying or not, but then in a blink of an eye I witnessed the world engage in chaos. House items flying out of shelves..the scantiness of groceries, fear and panic driving decisions, and the obsessive acquiring of toilet paper…which if I may be honest I find it quite comical and to this day confuses me to how that connection to the virus was made.

It’s no surprise that my flight was cancelled and I found myself like the rest of the world, in isolation. For me not much altered in my days besides the blessing and opportunity to work from the comfort of my home. Being home is not a novelty for me as I truly delight and recharge in times of solitude.

Now, as the world shut its doors and commitments are at a standstill, I find myself with this precious time. These moments have brought into perspective the things that truly matter. As I reflect, I realize the importance and power of rest and the frailty of time. Life is truly fleeting… The exact day we are living today we will never get to live again. Often times we get overly consumed in what lies ahead and preparing for our futures while burning through the hours of the present day. When in reality, tomorrow is not guaranteed…

In the midst of the crisis, I choose to see the countless blessings. I see the intimacy families are experiencing. Eating dinner together is back on the table, neighbors are getting closer, and the phrase how are you ? stems from a place of honesty, relationships are getting stronger and this time of much needed rest for our souls.

Instead of giving in to the temptation and distraction of fear, anxiety and worry, why not be present and fully live what God has for you this very day. If you too find yourself with extra time, dedicate your energy to the passions and desires you’ve always found yourself saying “if only I had the time”…. the world needs your gifts, especially in times like this.

I’m thankful that this time has allowed me to dedicate my time to my passions, including this blog or journal as I prefer to call it. For many manyyy years ( 13 to be exact) I’ve had the desire to initiate it but fear and busyness crippled me. It strikes me that this much time has passed…

This is my new beginning and the story of White Eden journal. This journal is an outlet to document my days, share thoughts through this quarantine along with inspiration, anecdotes, my story and passions in art. I’m excited to connect with you, to encourage and inspire you as I share my journey. I am thankful that you are here.

I hope you’re encouraged, staying safe and remember this too shall pass…

Till next time,

Paloma

P. S

You are probably wondering who is Paloma, stay tuned I will share with you they story :)