Phew! This week was hard for so many reasons, especially since we are coming off Spring Break, but the reason that stands out the most is simply me missing my "old" life- the life prior to social distancing and coronavirus- and the many things (and people) I took for granted.
I walked a lot this week, which was good because it gave me time to clear my head and focus on the beauty of the world around me. A really bad storm passed through parts of the city late Sunday night, and when I walked early Tuesday morning, the devastation seemed just as bad as it had the day before. But, there were so many beautiful parallels to what we, the world, are experiencing that it sort of took my breath away.
Huge trees were uprooted or even split and broken in half. Branches and leaves were everywhere, covering the roads and yards. Power lines were down and some parts of the city were without for several days. As I walked and saw the devastation, I also saw the flowers which continued to bloom and flourish. The squirrels and birds who carried on life as usual. The worms (and there were plenty of them) who wiggled their way back to the safety of the dirt and grass. All these sights made me realize that despite being knocked down, I didn't have to stay there, and I shouldn't. I needed to get back to life as usual, or at least as usual as it gets during this time.
So, what does that look like, exactly? Well, I'm not really sure. I know I need to spend more time focusing on my relationship with those around me. My children have been thrust into this just as much as I have, and we all terribly miss our schools, our friends, and our routines. Homework just doesn't have the same meaning when you do it all day long!
Along with my children, I need to focus on my relationship with my husband. We have been having virtual "date nights" with friends of ours. It is actually quite funny because all we do is play with silly filters on the video chat and take screen shots of them. But it's in those times of silliness that I find the joy in all this. It is so, so good to laugh as it definitely lightens the mood. I have found that I look forward to our weekly video chats as we sit on the patio by the fire. The simplicity of it all is actually rather comforting. Knowing that just being together is enough, more than enough, actually.
We went fishing this weekend at a friend's pond. We were the only ones by the pond and only talked to our friends from the distance of our vehicles. As we sat by the water, I watched some of my girls as they tried to catch tadpoles. There were a few close calls with tumbles in the water, and after a while they just decided to risk it and simply stepped into the muck. While they were busy catching tadpoles and hanging onto tree branches to support themselves, the little boys just talked, cast their poles a few times, and mostly caused mischief. They tried to "free" the worms a few times, wanted to play with their older brother's bait and tackle, and snuck sips of my drink while I looked the other way. This family fishing trip was stressful at times, peaceful at times, but a lasting memory for sure, just as this pandemic is and will be!
I have fond memories of going there when my oldest son, Thomas, was little. I don't remember exactly how old he was, but somewhere between the ages of 4 and 6. He, like the girls had been doing this time, was trying to catch something near the surface of the water. Thomas slipped and fell in! Thankfully it wasn't deep water and he was mostly muddy and completely wet. It served a good lesson on being careful around water and always watching where you step. He was so embarrassed when it happened that we had to leave.
I walked a lot this week, which was good because it gave me time to clear my head and focus on the beauty of the world around me. A really bad storm passed through parts of the city late Sunday night, and when I walked early Tuesday morning, the devastation seemed just as bad as it had the day before. But, there were so many beautiful parallels to what we, the world, are experiencing that it sort of took my breath away.
Huge trees were uprooted or even split and broken in half. Branches and leaves were everywhere, covering the roads and yards. Power lines were down and some parts of the city were without for several days. As I walked and saw the devastation, I also saw the flowers which continued to bloom and flourish. The squirrels and birds who carried on life as usual. The worms (and there were plenty of them) who wiggled their way back to the safety of the dirt and grass. All these sights made me realize that despite being knocked down, I didn't have to stay there, and I shouldn't. I needed to get back to life as usual, or at least as usual as it gets during this time.
So, what does that look like, exactly? Well, I'm not really sure. I know I need to spend more time focusing on my relationship with those around me. My children have been thrust into this just as much as I have, and we all terribly miss our schools, our friends, and our routines. Homework just doesn't have the same meaning when you do it all day long!
Along with my children, I need to focus on my relationship with my husband. We have been having virtual "date nights" with friends of ours. It is actually quite funny because all we do is play with silly filters on the video chat and take screen shots of them. But it's in those times of silliness that I find the joy in all this. It is so, so good to laugh as it definitely lightens the mood. I have found that I look forward to our weekly video chats as we sit on the patio by the fire. The simplicity of it all is actually rather comforting. Knowing that just being together is enough, more than enough, actually.
We went fishing this weekend at a friend's pond. We were the only ones by the pond and only talked to our friends from the distance of our vehicles. As we sat by the water, I watched some of my girls as they tried to catch tadpoles. There were a few close calls with tumbles in the water, and after a while they just decided to risk it and simply stepped into the muck. While they were busy catching tadpoles and hanging onto tree branches to support themselves, the little boys just talked, cast their poles a few times, and mostly caused mischief. They tried to "free" the worms a few times, wanted to play with their older brother's bait and tackle, and snuck sips of my drink while I looked the other way. This family fishing trip was stressful at times, peaceful at times, but a lasting memory for sure, just as this pandemic is and will be!
I have fond memories of going there when my oldest son, Thomas, was little. I don't remember exactly how old he was, but somewhere between the ages of 4 and 6. He, like the girls had been doing this time, was trying to catch something near the surface of the water. Thomas slipped and fell in! Thankfully it wasn't deep water and he was mostly muddy and completely wet. It served a good lesson on being careful around water and always watching where you step. He was so embarrassed when it happened that we had to leave.
As I sat at the pond this past weekend, I thought about Thomas and that particular day. It seems like it was only yesterday when in reality, it has been at least 10 years. I have learned through all this time at home, away from the distractions of life, that time is something that cannot be stopped and is definitely limited.
I plan to make better use of my time, and I am thankful for this opportunity to do so.
I plan to make better use of my time, and I am thankful for this opportunity to do so.
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