Seven is the number of completeness and perfection - both physical and spiritual. It derives much of its meaning from being tied directly to God’s creation of all things.

It’s phase 2. I went out on Monday and Tuesday and again today. Just for an hour or two but it was like twisting open a lid on a bottle of soda. The pressure shot out and the bubbles rose to the surface.

Art and I exercised together. His legs are long - and I kept pace with his stride. Two steps for every one. We walked the whole of Zattera, slipped inside Salute - the Basilica of Good Health . Art pulled a 2 Euro coin from his pocket and handed me a candle. “Say a Prayer.” He said. He crossed himself and I closed my eyes and said “Lord my prayers are too many. You know what I need most.”

We snuck past the queue at the butcher at Campo Santa Margherita and back over Accademia towards our respective homes.

In total 7000 steps door to door. In quarantine I have been lucky if I got 700 when I went to the grocery. On some days it was barely 70.

There’s a number. 7 it appears to me today.

When I met AlexaAndrea, she pointed out that I didn’t see them. Numbers. She saw them everywhere. In my life and in hers. But I am starting to see numbers again. I haven’t seen them since I was 17. In high school algebra numbers paralyzed me - I simply couldn’t do them.

In my marriage my ex-husband was in charge of the numbers. It bothered him when people called him an accountant. “I’m a CFO.” He said. He served me papers for Discovery last week. 24 pages of numbers for me to fill out. I can’t look at them. Opening the document sends me into a panic attack. My email box is a landmine. More questions from the auditor for the tax audit.

Later after I had separated from my husband I fell in love with a physicist who invented a new language of numbers. He moved from Italy to China and became obsessed with various brushes and hand strokes of Chinese calligraphy. He was creating a visual language of numbers and the way his brain thought intrigued me as he used both his right and left brain simultaneously. On the train from Shenzhen to Kaifeng when I visited him this time last year I watched him sketch what looked like a chrysanthemum His face was so beautiful it hurt. Catching me watching him he asked, “Do you see it?” I stared a long time and finally asked...27? “Brava. “ He said.

After waking with Art on Monday in the afternoon I went to the Piazza San Marco and I stood and watched a drone fly over head. That’s the noise I’ve been hearing in my apartment that I thought was a helicopter. They are drones. Drones are taking over Venice. They were illegal I thought? And now I hear them constantly.

Wait. What day is it. May 7th.

7 again. I look it up.

There are 7 layers of skin. The ocean waves roll in 7s. The rainbow has 7 colors.

Sound has 7 notes

The earth was created in 7 days.

A cube has 7 dimensions. The Bible has 735 mentions of 7.

Seven is the number of completeness and perfection - both physical and spiritual. It derives much of its meaning from being tied directly to God’s creation of all things.

It’s related to inner wisdom, mysticism, intuition and inner strength. If you see this number, it means that you should have more faith in your guardian angels, but also in your own abilities. Your inner wisdom will help you make the right choices and make good decisions.

If I’m honest I googled “what day of the week is it?” This question prefills on my phone. I usually keep track of the day of the week by the recycling schedule with the garbage men. It’s Thursday today. I’ve barely had time to write in my journal this week and that discombobulates me.

I need to find my new rythm - a new schedule for this brave new world.

Monday afternoon I went to the piazza San Marco to see Valeria who sells my jewelry line at Boncompagni by Valeria. Stores aren’t allowed to be open but she moved her atelier into her store front.

The next day a new friend from Facebook- a chiropractor here in Venice invited me for a doctors appointment and I practically skipped to see her healing hands.

Today I saw Luca and Orseola. Luca is a psychiatrist and he gave me melatonin to help me stay asleep. Seeing them was therapy to my soul.

Family. The rules say you can only see Family, not Friends these days. But they understand they are my family in Venice. These Venetians. They understand that I need them. I am not alone. I can breathe.

At night, I wake 2am and my brain doesn’t stop moving. I get up and I work. I make final edits for my new website. I work long hours this last week. During the days and early evening I have countless client phone calls.

“People are ready” I tell my colleagues.

I can feel it.

Now is the time to act.

2 months ago when I told my team I wouldn’t do marketing for a period I think they questioned my judgment.

But I needed that time to think.

I reconfigured my business plan to fit the new world in which we live.

I transitioned with you watching from the old me to the new.

At times I’m certain you thought I was crazy sharing my journey.

But I needed to share it with you for you to come out with me on this other side.

Metamorphosis.

Otherwise how would you have known it’s still me?

During these last 2 months I asked questions to leaders in the industry.

I listened.

I learned to listen better than ever before.

And I came up with a plan.

Watch my last video on my crystal ball - predictions for my industry- if you haven’t. We are given an opportunity to prepare for 2021.

New clients are starting to come asking for my new services.

I announce the new website next week.

And my team trusts me. They can see my strategy. Strategy has always been my strong point.

Seeing people - even wearing gloves and mask - after 2 months in solitary confinement was like taking giant gulp of air.

Have you ever been at the sea and been caught by an undertow slipping under the water hitting your head on the sand? Like when you’re holding your breathe for longer and longer periods but each time you bob to the surface you drink air in greedy breaths hoping the air will be enough to sustain you. I wonder if this phase 2 will give way to phase 3?

I felt amazing so happy to see my friends - I forgot to mention Emilio at Porte Italia - but I also felt overwhelmed. I needed sleep more after going out but my brain wouldn’t let me sleep. My brain it dreams strange dreams.

I feel like Fortuny on a leash and collar. He loves it when I take him on an adventure. He’s curious about what lies beyond our front door. His nose raises and his whiskers twitches as he smells the new air but he also hunkers when we go out. And when his walk is over he runs home anxious to find our front door.

When I saw Orseola today I told her, she looked so beautiful. More so than ever before. Her face was unlined and she was peaceful. It was the same when I saw Emilio at Porte Italia this morning. He looked relaxed. We met to discuss stage 3 and how are can help each other. Yes I start to plan. I start to see - a future that includes the new me.

OUR SPONSOR:

Truly Venice is a trademark owned by Property Solutions, a Swiss based company that operates as an agent for property owners wishing to lease their properties for short and long term stays. The company was founded in 2007 by a small entrepreneurial team that sees a great opportunity in offering people all over the world an alternative accommodation to hotels going beyond the traditional tourist trip.

We aim to offer a personalised service, organizing restaurant bookings and taxi services, finding the appropriate meeting and exhibition space as well as offering flowers, special wines and food baskets. Property Solutions is a customer focused company that values your ideas, comments and thoughts. We encourage you to give us feedback on any aspect of our business, whether it be about the website, the service or one of our apartments.

WEBSITE: www.trulyveniceapartments.com

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