Circumstances and Situations

Social distancing and social isolations are our current catch phrases.

Counting my blessings

Although life has changed I am not uncomfortable. There is the occasional bout of loneliness but that’s a small price to pay for the general well-being of—well everyone.  Since my place of work transferred to my home this whole experience essentially feels like one long, long weekend—Mostly Sunday. And to keep that all in check I remind myself that everything changes.  Metaphorically and literally Monday will come again but in the mean time I am extremely aware of my circumstances and how blessed I am.

The importance of kindness

It took me almost two weeks to feel like I was actually in the swing of what this new albeit temporary life is.  I very diligently made checklists daily. On the first few days I only checked off two items. Being gentle with myself I figured there was always tomorrow. And, well, there is. There is no need to create any kind of experience that I may fail at. I think waking up and being gentle is the only thing that really needs to happen.  There is no panic. There is no failure. There is just doing my best—whatever that is for each of these days.

The importance of fresh air

Nature seems to be calling and a little bit more than normal. She may be yelling at some of us! But I hear her as an encouraging lady saying “hey, girl, get out here.” So I do. I have all these sweet little trails and places in this south Saskatchewan region, places where I have driven out, parked the car and strolled rolling hills, across fields, trekked up some interesting land formations, scouted out old buildings.  Every time I went, to every place I went, I was always alone unless I brought someone with me. However, now with restrictions on the population I am finding the parking spots that only had my vehicle are now full of vehicles. People are getting out with their families. I noticed this at my first hike, then the second, and then every time I have gone out unless I very intentionally went down a super deserted path. 

What did all these people do before? Did their kids have lessons? Did they wander the mall instead? Did they go for a coffee? Or work?  Yes to all of that. Now the shops are closed. There are no lessons for kids. The malls are closed, movie theaters, gyms—all closed.  People are looking to go somewhere and get out of the four walls they call home. 

I wonder if their searches have found them happier or more connected to their family or nature. I wonder if the fresh air and blood pumping from a hike has brought something more to them then they had before.  I wonder if they notice moments with the people in their lives that may have been over looked because they were sitting pool side on their phone during a swim lessons, or wandering the mall stimulated by the material stuff  that fills it—or simply just going from here to there getting things done. I wonder.  And I wonder if hitting the pause button has shifted anyone out there—even a little and if it has I wonder if they are glad or if they regret it.

Change before you have to.

Jack Welch

Maybe this change is one we need—forced into a different way of being, of seeing our experience. The biggest amount of growth happens when we leave our comfort zone and this is definitely uncomfortable for some.

Present and not quitting

On my first hike at the beginnings of our social distancing and social isolation I saw a family on an adjacent hill. There was a mom and a dad and a dog and a boy. I could hear the dad encouraging his boy. “Come on son! You can do it. When you get tired do you quit? No! That’s when you keep going. I’m out of breath but I’m still going. If you want something you have to go longer and harder than anyone else. If you want it bad enough keep going. You don’t quit. You want something you keep going. It’s hard work but it’s worth it.”  This dad was the motivational speech I didn’t know I needed. He jogged up to the top talking the whole time. I think I would have had a heart attack. The boy followed close behind.  Dad threw his arms in the air. “That’s it! Don’t quit. You’ve got this! But you’ve only got this as bad as you want it! Put your arms in the air son! You did it!”

This situation created a circumstance (and motivational speech). I was moved. I paid attention.

I was tuned in to catch it.

I was glad I was out there.

I was glad they were out there.

P.S.  The title is more about making choices regardless of the circumstance or the situation.