Things I Learned During Quarantine 2020

I started this post in August 2020 and never got around to completing it. A rainy day at the beach in April 2021 makes it the perfect time to contemplate and write!

Day 6,482 of limiting the number of places we go and staying 6 feet away from family, friends and strangers. There are so many things that were challenging about this phase for extroverts and huggers! Yes, we are in 2021, but I’m LOVING the lessons I learned during this pandemic!

1. When people show you who they are, believe it (the first time). I know this is an old one, but it never stops proving itself! Do I believe people change? Yes. Will I take you at face value as you are presenting yourself? Yep!

2. The actual, real life people are more important than running a profitable business (especially in a pandemic). So many times students would come into the studio and just lie on their mats. There were some tears. Some frustrations. And it reminded me of my responsibility as a “space holder” in sharing this yoga practice. Look at the people…love on the people…support the people! And that’s about the time Kara and I changed our mission for the studio - love, serve and support others!

3. God is faithful…always. Even in a pandemic! There were moments when my business partner wanted to give away EVERYTHING 😂 I remember thinking, how are we going to pay this rent! You know what? We made rent with VERY limited resources all but 1 month!

4. People make time for what they want to make time for. Myself included. Communicating that I really WANT to support you, or I’m just so busy, or I do X, so I can’t do Y with you right now 😒 I find that generally, people have control over their schedules and make a choice daily what they want to do or see happen in their lives. So if spending time with a friend is a priority, make it happen. Need some self-care? Make it happen. Need 10 minutes to pray or meditate? MAKE.IT.HAPPEN! No excuses!

5. Time is a blessing. Hard stop.

What did you learn during 2020? More importantly, how have you used those lessons to make 2021 better?!

Self-Study and Reflection

I realized this week that I hadn’t posted to my blog or on Social Media much this month on my feed (in the stories, yes, cause that’s fast and fun). I’m in a stage of long-term, strategic thought, while focusing on a yoga practice that reminds me to stay present…confusing, I know! So, I’ve been focusing on removing the confusion as I evaluate my attachment to things, places and people. I’ve been praying about different areas of my life and, true to my word of the year, illuminate, different things have become clearer!

I realized and was reminded this morning that as an extrovert, I am energized by being around people. In those months that we were “sheltered in place”, I was somewhat downcast and just wanted to sleep. I remember going to bed early and sleeping late. Not my usual, but, looking back, it was definitely the people factor. My introverted friends are living their best lives in seclusion right now!! On the up side, I’ve made new friends IRL that I would never have met in my bubble in Harrisburg…that energizes me!

In my new free time, I’ve committed to trying things outside of my normal routine. I recently attended a beautiful class led by a Jewish woman and she taught a lesson on Purim - I’ve been captivated all week since taking the class! And now I’m out here studying the Hebrew Bible from a Jewish perspective. I also attended a class at Dharma Yoga Center in New York and wow…complete 180 from the vinyasa style of yoga that I’m accustomed to practicing! It was a reminder that there is no “one size fits all” in yoga. I ended the class breathing and thinking, stay open to trying new teachers, new styles, and appreciating the different limbs of yoga.

In the end, I’m in a place of contentment. Contentment with decisions I’ve made, thoughts I’ve turned to action and words I’ve said. I’m content with my family and our home, my mental, spiritual and physical health, and my relationship with Jesus.

That all felt real deep so I’ll share some exciting things! I’m excited to continue to teach at Charlotte Family Yoga weekly! I have the opportunity to teach at The Met in Charlotte with @sweatnetcharlotte on March 2nd at 6:00! Expect laughs, sweat, and an upbeat playlist! I’m also teaching online through a new app called #Zenia Friday at 12:00 PM! More exciting things are in the pipeline as I adjust to this time being a "full-time" yoga teacher!

Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself!

Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Vicie Moran, I’m a native of Mobile, AL, a graduate of Auburn University (War Eagle!), mom of 2 amazing little humans, middle child to two amazingly kind parents (who were also high school sweethearts), wife to @jvo21 for the last 13 years (where has time gone?!), and a current resident of Harrisburg, NC. (Suburb of Charlotte, NC). 💛

I’m a friend to ALL I come into contact with and a lover of Jesus, God’s Word, and craft coffee! The Jesus loving part is mostly because I grew up as a Pastor’s Kid (PK!!) . And much like Jesus, I love EVERYONE - those I don’t agree with, those that are not like me, those who have similar paths - everyone! We were made to love and I take that responsibility seriously! Because of these traits, I’m the Director of Hospitality at my local church @MultiplyChurchHarrisburg 💜

My parents are both long-time entrepreneurs so even though I worked in corporate America for the last 16 years, business ownership is in my blood. It’s probably why I did well because I treated every position as if I had a personal stake in the company! I decided in my late 20s that I didn’t want to work this hard for someone else and manifested that decision by leaving my corporate America job in September 2020! 💙

I’m currently one of the co-owners of @Charlotte Family Yoga! I found yoga in a gym in Atlanta, Georgia about 15 years ago. I “rediscovered” the practice in 2015 after the birth of my 2nd child, my little heartbreaker son, after experiencing Heart Failure shortly after delivery. Talk about a wake-up call to stop doing the most! I LOVED the physical practice of yoga. It made me feel strong, powerful and focused. It calmed my frazzled nerves after a long day working and gave me an hour to myself, 4 days a week! And yes, long story short, I loved it so much, I bought into an already established studio! It’s been a labor of love managing through a pandemic, but it’s also such a fulfilling practice that enhances overall quality of life that I couldn’t imagine not offering space for others to experience the same! 💜

But did you know that I’m also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)?! Yep! For the last 14 years, I’ve owned and managed my own CPA firm before virtual was a 2020 thing! Shout out to my first and still rocking with me clients from right out of college, Dupree and Jen R. Strangely, I love the numbers - they make sense in a world that sometimes doesn’t. It brings me joy to complete financial planning and tax prep for clients who are not interested in knowing the ins and outs of the tax code, but instead, trust that I’m doing the work to ensure they are paying the least amount of taxes possible! 💛

I’m also an open book! I don’t allow secrets , fear or shame to cloud my judgement or perception in life. I’m not a people pleaser, but I like to see people joyful (joyful, not happy, which is fleeting) and living their best lives! And I’m a giver - see note on amazingly kind parents above. My dad (and Jesus) taught me to give generously. To bless those who are less fortunate, and understand that “my” resources are not actually mine at all!

I love music - all music, and Mariah Carey is my favorite artist- I don’t need the comments on the diva; she and those pipes are awesome visions of love and it was all that was...you know the rest 😂. Whitney Houston’s “I wanna dance with somebody” has consistently been my JAM for the last 7 years after dancing my butt off at the wedding of a college friend @meridethpotter ❤️ I’ve danced in the streets of Bali, rode my Peloton, ran a 1/2 marathon and played that song at least twice a month in my yoga classes!

So that’s me! You can catch glimpses of me every few days through my Instagram and Facebook stories! DM me with questions Or comments!