WHAT HAS TWO WEEKS IN SELF-ISOLATION TAUGHT ME?

WHAT HAS TWO WEEKS IN SELF-ISOLATION TAUGHT ME?

Today will be the final day of our 14-day self-isolation since our return from Mexico on March 14. It has not been as difficult for me as it may be for others. I have always managed to find ways to occupy my time no matter the circumstances. As a child, I grew up with only my Mom and Dad, as my brother and sister had moved away. Every summer, I had to practice fending for myself in terms of spending two months of school vacation relatively alone. Growing up in a small town with only a few friends living nearby we had to entertain ourselves without any assistance or any real resources. As a result, I feel my current situation is not a lot different. Little did I realize I had apprenticed for today’s self-isolation so many years ago. 

I think that it is important to try to establish some kind of routine to shape each day with some semblance of order and consistency. Without it, I know that I would be more frustrated and walking around in circles, both on the floor and in my mind. Routine provides some stability to me. My daily routine consists of the following: get up about 6 am (set by my senior biological clock), make coffee, have breakfast, then computer time, watch 15 minutes max of the 8 am news, shower, dress, read or write until 10, then Darlene and I play 3 games of backgammon, chores or a simple task ( clean a drawer), lunch, watch 10 minutes of noon news, at 2 pm go for an hour walk, then maybe a quick snooze, phone friends or read, help with supper, clean up, again read, computer or phone, around 7:30 watch something on TV for two hours, then unwind on the computer or in a book until bedtime at 10:30. As mundane as this routine sounds, I have found that it has worked so far for me. I do feel that I am going to need to introduce some more variety and some more challenging activities soon, but with the restrictions of isolation, they will probably be generated by the computer, a “new” hobby, or more outdoor time. At the moment I am mulling between three options: learning to tap dance, play the banjo, or crochet doilies! 

With a lot of free time, I have had a lot of time to reflect on our current situation and I believe that:

• we are fortunate to be retired and not have to face the added pressures of going to work or being laid off or unemployed.
• the surreal nature of the pandemic is highlighted when I look out my window at the river and the valley and nothing has visibly changed. Invisibly, our world has really changed forever.
• I only watch any news for 10-15 minutes a few times a day. I don’t think a constant and continuous barrage of Covid-19 news is good for our mental health or our stress level. Important news and issues will be at the top of any newscast or article and that’s enough.
• talking with friends by phone or FaceTime is more important than ever, as it the only social interaction we can have and it is so vital.
• the crisis has definitely caused us to consider and reflect upon what is really important in our lives. Unfortunately, it took a pandemic to slow us down and force us to smell the roses. In the long term, we may become better people.
• one of the positive aspects of our crisis is when you now phone a friend you know that they will be home and answer the phone. If they have caller ID and don’t answer then you have learned something else.
• I have a real concern for those who will be financially devastated by the pandemic. I feel it will take years for our economy to rebound and return to any semblance of our past prosperity. Sadly, a lot of people will suffer in the meanwhile.
• the emergencies that we are facing may spawn a host of new and creative ideas and inventions that fulfill the notion that “Necessity is the Mother of Invention.” Many among us will respond to the challenge in surprisingly positive and beneficial ways. That is something to look forward to!

Of course, nothing above is that intriguing, but I felt that if I shared my past two weeks of self-isolation, it would bring everyone up to date. Let’s see if the next two weeks present any new routines or insights!