Surviving the 'Not Yet'
Excuse me, have you seen April? Short, unpredictable - often runs hot and cold?
After slogging through March, which felt twice as long as usual, I’m scratching my head and wondering, where has April gone?!
The Slog and Fog
I’d like to say that I’ve been so busy accomplishing great things that April has flown by! The reality is I’m still finding my footing and moving forward one baby step at a time. Winter was heavy, and March was a whirlwind of expanding global crises, financial burdens, and hate-driven actions meant to separate and isolate us. I wrote about seeing you among all the challenges and heartaches, and I’m still here with you.
I had great expectations for April. Longer daylight (in my part of the world) brings warmer weather and spring blooms. I thought surely, I’d be jumping into employment by now. Expecting leaps and bounds, I’m still experiencing mud and residual snow.
I started to doubt myself. Is it me? Am I putting too little effort into the job search? Too much? Setting goals that are too big? Too small? Are my skills outdated? Am I underqualified? Over-qualified? Just not qualified? All the while, that sneaky, evil whisper inside says, “You are not enough. Don’t reach out - protect yourself from the world. Things are better if they stay the same. The devil you know is better than the one you don’t.”
Oh, I hate that voice!! It is the trickster, Fear, trying to throw me off balance and stop me in my tracks! I often hear it when I’m on the verge of new growth and exciting opportunities, because Fear does not like Change. They don’t get along at all. Fear tries to sabotage my progress by feeding me doubts, so Change never has a chance. But I’m much wiser now and recognize its schemes.
I guess that I’m not alone in this April fog, because I’ve been hearing similar frustrations from friends and colleagues. Things are moving in spurts and stops. One step forward and two steps back. In part, it’s the astrology. Yup, I said it. Seven planets aligning in Aries doesn’t bring daisies and unicorns. That kind of once-in-a-lifetime occurrence sheds light on our entanglements, personally and as a society. What are we clinging to, even if it hasn’t been working for us?
For certain, there are opportunities ahead, and transformation is happening. It just takes time, like seed growth, right? Also, it takes us clearing our personal fog - the hurdles we need to face and the icky stuff in our closets that require a good Spring cleaning. We have to do the hard work of sorting ourselves out before there’s room for opportunities to blossom.
How to Survive the ‘Not Yet’
Patience is not a natural virtue of mine. It’s more like a persistent teacher that I’d rather avoid because of all the homework. One lesson I’ve learned is that patience doesn’t mean sitting around waiting for the phone to ring or an email to pop up. During this April fog, I’ve taken intentional steps to keep the momentum going. Perhaps my strategies can offer you a path forward if you’re also feeling stuck in a ‘Not Yet’ time loop.
Self-care for the win! Am I eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and sticking to a sleep routine?
Stay connected. Weekly check-ins with family and friends keep me sane, honest, and focused on mutual support.
Service. I look for regular opportunities to volunteer. Sometimes in person, sometimes virtually. Maybe an hour, maybe a day. Helping others makes me feel better and gets me out of my monkey mind. Not surprising that research shows volunteering is good for our health!
Just say ‘Yes!’ If I can help, I help. If an unexpected opportunity presents itself, I take it. I’m practicing flexible thinking because I never know where a possibility may lead!
Don’t force a solution. Along the lines of flexible thinking, I’m allowing things to unfold as they should. Not pushing, prodding, or nagging. Taking a slow breath or making a cup of tea when I get anxious.
Act as if. I continue to attend webinars and workshops to keep my skills fresh. I envision myself working in the job I desire and notice how great that feels! I keep an affirmation on the refrigerator that I repeat every day to help manifest the vision of where I’m headed.
Have a game plan. I set weekly goals with daily tasks to achieve. The goals vary, but typically focus on self-care, service, and employment. No matter how many I achieve, I still have a plan and celebrate the little victories.
Celebrate! This gets its own category. Every week, I find something to celebrate. Maybe I achieved a goal that was challenging. Something wonderful happened for a family member. A friend got a new job. Whatever it is, I celebrate!
Review and reflect. At least monthly, I go back in my journal to read what I’ve written. Was there a theme or message I’ve missed? Did I meet a challenge, or was I gracious? In the moment, things can seem so urgent, and then we forget about them. We move on to the next thing. When I reflect on the week or the month, it gives me more clarity, and I feel re-energized. Maybe even hopeful.
It’s okay to Ugly Cry. It’s important to honor my emotions. If I’m feeling frustrated or sad, I give myself permission to release it. Tears are encouraged! The world is heavy, and we can’t carry everything.
A Ray of Sunshine
The employment challenge remains, but my writing and publishing continue to evolve! I’ve had four poems accepted for publication recently, and I can share two of them with you now. I hope they encourage you to keep going, one step at a time.
What’s Right In Front Of Me
With each cautious step
heeding
what’s right in front of me
Snow dusts thick, slick ice
moving
with each cautious step
Dogged focus on my feet
missing
what’s right in front of me
Spikes slip, arms flail
steadying
with each cautious step
Tactics turn, another path
learning
what’s right in front of me
Too late, I didn’t see
until the ice near swallowed me
with each cautious step
what was right in front of me
© J.Catherine Tetrault, 2026
Published by Pen to Print
What If It All Works Out?
What if I stand here and
prepare for there?
What if there arrives here?
Am I able to receive
with curiosity, grace, and humility?
Can I conjure the courage to
stand my ground,
and welcome possibility?
What I want to know
of all unknowns,
is what my soul requires
to accept my heart’s desires.
© J.Catherine Tetrault, 2026
Published by Pen to Print
Always thoughtful and helpful! Congrats on the publication of your poems!
Chock full of insights and good information as usual. Thanks. I shared blog with my friend Berta.