Strange Days
April 06, 2020 |
| A little bit of spring from California a couple of years ago |
Life continues to feel surreal. Most of us are down to
visiting the grocery store and staring at our own four walls. My big outing of
the week is a trip to the barn to take care of Tank. If I happen to run into
anyone, we stand at least six feet away from each other and shout pleasantries.
Weird.
Nearly everyone I know and the
majority of the people I follow on social media or the Internet is relentlessly
trying to remain positive and encouraging, and I could not be more grateful. My
mother-in-law sent the whole family an email with only these words:
THIS WILL BE OVER
AND
WE WILL BE THE BETTER FOR IT.
I have no idea what life will be
like once this is “over.” Will it ever be over? Did someone hit a reset
button somewhere?
I’ve been too tired and distracted to do much of anything,
and even my reading has suffered. I don’t have a lot of work deadlines right
now, but I do have personal writing projects I’d like to pursue, and I can’t
seem to motivate myself to do them. I’ve tried breaking them down into smaller
and smaller bits, but so far haven’t found a small enough bit to accomplish.
But today is the start of a new week, a week in which I
will continue to enjoy simple pleasures and maybe even an everyday adventure or
two—for example, I need to pick up a few items at the grocery store today—wish
me luck! I will try again to be more productive with my time, whether I
use it to clean up a mess (have you noticed the Persistence of Messes even in
times of pandemic?), or to write a haiku, or to otherwise play around with
words hoping to find the magic combination that resonates in my mind as being
something I want to share.
I will read books from my unread shelf, and library books
that have been stranded with me. I will take Luna for walks, and brush Prudy.
Tank is scheduled to have his yearly vaccines this week. I will make dinner,
and do laundry, and otherwise keep our home a place of safety and comfort. My
husband’s business is considered essential, so he is still going to his office,
though it is closed to the public and only one other employee is working there
with him (the rest are working from home).
I will take it one day at a time. Life goes on, even in
these strange days.
And how are you doing?
While avoiding too much news, I have found some solace
online. Here are some links you might find inspiring or helpful:
If you have extra time on your hands, you could do worse
than joining Yale University’s “The Science of Well Being” course, available
free through Coursera.
“Pandemic Positivity” downloads from Positively Present.
I’m partway through watching this TED Connects video with
Elizabeth Gilbert.
And finally, I leave you with this, the best thing I’ve seen
online all week (thanks for sharing, Kerri):
5 comments
That is one of the best videos I’ve seen in a long time. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnd I understand what you mean about having trouble getting motivated. I am too. I was blaming it on my shoulder surgery, but maybe it’s more than that.
Cheryl--wasn't it adorable?! What a great family.
DeleteI'm sure shoulder surgery all by itself is a de-motivator. Hope you're healing well and being kind to yourself :) Take care, and stay healthy!
Finding health, acceptance and cheer in my own life is one of the things I'm able to do to help...and I do believe that after, some healthy things will come out of this...Thanks for the links. What a lucky, close, creative family...Apparently there are a number of new "good news" sites online...
ReplyDeleteKathy as always thank you for a wonderful post. I am struggling with being motivated as well. Before they closed the public library checked out a stack of books but have not managed to read more than one...can't seem to focus. When we come out of this time I know I am going to be upset with myself that I didn't enjoy this down time more :)! Take care and thank you always for your visits to my blog. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Debbie. I know what you mean--I felt like I would be more motivated to work on my own projects, but instead I've felt very scattered and discombobulated. I'm still doing all the at-home things I did before, too, so my actual day-to-day schedule hasn't changed as much as most people's. Guess we should cut ourselves some slack!
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