All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Quarantine
Well, it's been a year.
I've definitely learned some things along the way... haven't we all? A full year of our lives... wouldn't want to let it be wasted time. A lot can be learned in a year. Here are some of the lessons I've been contemplating, and in no particular order.
Blowing on a cake and then sharing it was never a good idea! And I mean, NEVER! I used to watch people blowing out those birthday candles with a certain amount of trepidation... now that trepidation has converted to repulsion. For sure, I've learned a TON about hygiene, and with great results. Between the distancing, hand washing, and masks, I haven't so much as caught a cold in the past 365 days. Here are some other things that have been moved to the "never gonna happen again" hygiene-no-nos list: hugging people outside of my bubble (and I'm a hugger), traveling without sanitizer, shaking hands (nope nope), buffets (gonna miss you, Hoss's), close-talking.
Masks are cool (don't @ me). I've come to love masks for a variety of reasons. First, they're crazy effective (see, "I haven't so much as caught a cold in the past 365 days.") Second, they come in all kinds of fun colors and patterns - Old Navy has perfected the art of mask design, and I can shop the sales and accessorize all my outfits with a matching mask, as well as find masks for all holidays and seasons. Next, they do keep your face cozy when it's cold out. Finally, I can sing along to my music while at the gym, and I can have a very satisfying yawn in public, and nobody is the wiser.
You find out who your friends are. Some sad lessons have been learned, too... we've all learned some things about friends or family members that we'd rather not have known. I'll leave it at that, you know what I mean. That said, I've also seen, and been on the receiving end of tremendous acts of kindness and selflessness, folks going all the way out of their way to help others through. We've learned about humanity... the good, the bad, and the ugly.
We will always need brick and mortar schools. Not just so that parents can get back to work, or because better learning happens, but because students and teachers being in the same room together is awesome. All of a sudden we realized how much we count on being present for each other. Parents missed school, teachers missed school, more importantly, kids missed school, kids LOVE school.
Living in the sticks is where it's at. Nature never got canceled. Exercising outside never got canceled. Hiking the woods never got canceled. We were SO lucky that such a huge part of our way of life was not interrupted. I know I'm speaking specifically for my crew, here, but being able to head out to camp, or just for a run or walk in the woods helped life to feel normal in some of those moments when we thought we couldn't hang in there any longer. Living in a rural area also meant that we had a lower incidence of covid, which helped with everything from grocery shopping to going to school. We are lucky and we know it.
It's good for The Planet to slow it down once every one hundred years, or so. In all seriousness, covid and a global quarantine has been good for Planet Earth. Carbon emissions, air and water pollution have been reduced, mostly due to the reduction in air and road travel, and reduction in factory emissions. Larger cities are reporting improved air quality, and litter has been drastically reduced. Natural areas such as beaches and parks are cleaner, and noise pollution has been reduced, all making for healthier natural habitats for plants and wildlife. All of this is good news for humans, because healthier air and water, and cleaner natural environments are obviously better for our own health. Win-win-win-win-win. Mother Nature is taking a giant, deep breath, and we are all reaping the benefits.
Naps are a survival tool. Someone gave me a little decorative sign, once, that says, "When all else fails, take a nap." It's still perched on my mantle. Above everything else, this year has been exhausting. Sleep is strongly connected to mental health, so do yourself a favor, and get the rest you need. No guilt allowed! (my mother used to be adamantly against naps, and always told me, "there will be time enough for sleep in the grave!" 😶) A nice couch, a blanket, maybe a pup or two...go ahead and snuggle in... you may just find a little nap has a huge impact on your ability to cope.
Little things mean a lot. One things that I have noticed about myself over the course of the past year is that there has been an increase in my overall sensitivity... if that is even possible. It doesn't take much. It doesn't take much for me to get annoyed, or frustrated, or exhausted. It doesn't take much to hurt my feelings. By the same token, it doesn't take much to make my day, to cheer me up, or to lighten my load: A smile and a wave, a personal note or email, someone going with me on my afternoon walk, a Snap or text from one of the kids, a beautiful sky, the sound of the birds, or capturing a great photo. Tiny things are just a big deal right now - And that's why I keep telling people to "take care of each other." You really never know what someone else is dealing with, and what might be the little thing that devastates them, or the little thing that keeps them going.
No matter what, my heart is my own, and I am in control. With all the unknowns, the stress, and hardships of the last year, we have all had to learn things the hard way. I consider myself fairly well intact, these days, when it comes to my emotional health, but, boy, there have been moments that left me spinning. I've had to do a ton of maintenance, and even repair work. Time and time again, I've had to start over and climb out of a hole that I fell into. More and more, I understand that I must protect myself by guarding my heart. I carefully decide what I allow in, and I carefully decide what I put out there. "My wound isn't necessarily my fault, but my recovery is my responsibility." Listen, this is not the time to leave yourself vulnerable and unprotected. It's not the time to set yourself up for heartbreak. This is the time to empower yourself by taking control and deciding. Without excusing yourself or making apologies, now is the time to take care of you. 💖
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