As my job and many aspects of life return to normal, I’ve been thinking a lot about what normal is and if I like it. And mainly the answer is no.
Obviously we were in lockdown bc there is a global pandemic and we need to keep ourselves and our fellow human safe. It’s a serious thing that comes with the potential for sickness and death. It is not to be taken lightly. While in quarentine we were given an opportunity to really reflect on this and think about where we fit into the puzzle of society and community. And how we can improve that puzzle for every one to live a better more healthy life.
Lock down also gave me time to think about my overall priorities in life, what is important and what is less so.
I’ve always known that my priorities don’t usually meet up with most peoples. I tend shun consumerism, favor solitude, have not bought into an image or conventional standards of life, and “move to the beat of my own drum” more than most, I would say. The things that are important to me are not what I have or what I can buy. I hold my privacy, the comfortablility in my home (including saving items that might be considered trash to most), my family, my cats, making a safe space for them, time to think and create, grow and learn, and my commitment to reducing my waste and plastic intake, and creating, thru my small actions, a tiny teeny corner of the world that’s a little better, as some of the most important things in life.
While I was in lockdown there were things that I noticed I had more time for or felt good about. Here are some of my observations:
More time to create
During lock down I was starting to feel creative again. I was able to devote time to this blog, draw, read, write, and let my mind start to have space to create. What could I have done with more time for these practices?
More time with family and friends
Although, I missed out on seeing a lot of people bc it was imperitive to stay away from most people, I was able to connect to many people in some way as well. I had long conversations, played game nights at online gatherings, and texted many people I had not seen in a long time to check in and stay connected.
Buying way less
We pride ourselves on not buying much in general, but the opportunity to buy even less felt great.
Devoting less time to grocery shopping
I’ve said it many times before, but we would go to the grocery store every few days, some times many days in a row before lockdown. Something we want to take away from this experience is to only shop every few weeks, and by doing that, reduce our food waste.
Devoting more time to cooking and experimenting with recipes
Besides buying less in the long run, and using up what we bought, we were also able to spend time testing new recipes, trying new foods and relaxing when we cooked and ate.
Driving way less
One big downside to moving out of the city is all the driving. Keeping indoors, not eating out, and not traveling, it was nice to get a big break from the car.
More time to rest and think
During full quarentine I had a chance to do somehting that I haven’t done in over 20 years. I could wake up at my own pace and in my own time. No alarms, no immediate thoughts of the stressful day ahead or behind, no worrying about my job before my eyes even opened.
Feeling productive for myself
When I’m working it’s hard for me to feel good or productive about anyhting at home. For a long time I thought that meant I couldn’t self discipline or be productive without a job. But now I know, it’s the regular job that hinders me from this, not the other way around.
These are only some observations on my own mind and state of being, I could write a whole other article about the great impact on the world that lockdown had (and one on the negatives, I’m sure).
But basically, having time and space, even though we were staying home, had a great effect on me. I’m not sure I can go on living the way society forces us to under normal circumstances now that I know what life could be like. But as we must have a balance, I’m thinking hard about what I want to keep from what I’ve learned and how to do that.
What did you learn about yourself and your life in lockdown? What do you want to keep from that time?
