Many of us have been sequestered inside our homes for the last couple of weeks. Some of us are trying to keep our children caught up on schoolwork; some of us are working from home; some of us are considered essential and still have to go to work. It looks like we will be this way for atleast another month.
My lifestyle has not changed all that much-my husband goes to work and I stay at home, except now my seven-year old son is home. We spend our days sleeping until 8 a.m., having breakfast in the kitchen, and then about two hours of online schoolwork with Raz-Kids, iReady, and ABCya. He does most of his work in his pajamas and with a chocolate milk next to him. After lunch, we usually do something outside, or go for a car ride and not get out of the car. Our days blend together and our concept of time is pretty much out the window. Tuesday is the same as Friday, oh wait! It’s Wednesday!
The world will look very different when we come out of this. Many businesses will not recover from this extended closure. Many employees will have to leave the job that had to lay them off and find employment at an essential company. Businesses will have to adapt to the current situation in order to survive. Online shopping, limits on how many allowed in a store at a time, personal shoppers, delivery options, conference calling, and online/distance learning have reshaped our lifestyles. Most of us will have to start getting dressed in the morning, and that could be a real challenge.
Catastrophes like have exacerbated and forced inevitable change. Could this be one of those times? Will online learning be used more often? Will failing chain stores and businesses be forced to downsize or go online only? Will our healthcare professionals be listened to and valued more than celebrity singers and reality TV personalities?
“Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.” – Eckhart Tolle
So let’s stop the negativity. No one has experienced anything like this before and most are trying the best they can. Let’s be patient instead of edgy. Stop yelling at the cashier because they ran out of something in the store. Schools are closed for an extended period of time and teachers are forced to teach online. Most school districts and teacher unions do not have a plan in place to handle this. What about those households without internet access? Internet and broadband companies are being forced to improve their services and capacities. Large corporations, like Mary Kay and Ford, are adapting their plants to produce ventilators, masks, and sanitizers. The price of oil has dropped, so now people can afford to heat their homes.
Try to see the good in this uncertain time. While this epidemic has exposed weaknesses in our healthcare system and infrastructure, it will only make us better prepared for the future. It is difficult to not visit friends or family. We are social creatures and it is our nature to want to venture out, but please resist. The sooner we get through this, the sooner we can visit each other. Here are a few things that I plan to do with my son this week to change things up a bit:
- go for a car ride, but not get out of the car.
- create a journal to note an experience and a feeling each day.
- neighborhood scavenger hunt.
- play an instrument.
- prepare and plan our vegetable garden.
- start seedlings for planting in May.
- practice cursive writing
- learn to carry the “1” in math – sorry Sullivan West!
- call/Skype with a family member or friend this week.
What are you doing this week to make it unique and awesome?