I have been thinking a lot about “thriving.” Four months ago, I was opening for Skip Marley at the Necker Cup after winning VI Music Prize. In the months that followed, I opened for Keller Williams at Maho Crossroads and performed for the second year in a row at VI Jam Fest. I was having very productive conversations about co-writing for other artists and it felt like life had shifted into full on forward motion in the direction of all that I had spent nearly a decade working towards. Needless to say, I felt like I was thriving.

Now, I have spent a month at home and I have been wondering if I can describe this time as such. Can I truly “thrive” in confinement? And I think that the answer is yes. I think it is a matter of moving the goal line. Previously, I struggled to find time for regular exercise and meditation, and now I have the opportunity to come out of this stronger, healthier and more flexible in body and mind. I found myself lacking time to write new music and learn new songs for my gigs. I could come out of this with a fresh setlist and more original tunes. I could, I could, I could…the list goes on and on. There are things that I could be better at when all of this is said and done, and I can bring that version of me along when I return to the parts of life that have been put on pause. But will I? I hope so. If I can do that, then I think that I can definitely say that I spent this time thriving.

I know that everyone has different situations in the midst of all of this. Some are still heading out to do essential work. Some are home with families. Some are doing this completely solo. Some can work from home. Some have been displaced from their jobs. For each of us, thriving looks very different, but I believe that it is achievable because we get to set our own individual goal line. How are you thriving these days?