Did you ever think we would be in this place? Hunkering down at home, not seeing friends, family and neighbors? Thinking twice about stopping at the store for a few items? Or having to allow much more time to go to the bank because now it’s only drive-thru and there are always a lot of cars up ahead?
Covid-19 has touched and shifted all of our lives. Nothing is the same. Besides the obvious fight for survival, food shortages, suffering and death due to this virus, we have changed. We, as a society, have profound new respect for those who help us live our lives. We applaud the hospital staff and their devotion to staying the course. We appreciate teachers in a different way- how do they do it? We thank our grocery store clerks more and end with “Stay safe!”. We respect our personal space more and know when someone is too close. We think differently about our food sources and how that food makes it onto the shelf- or doesn’t. Never in my life have I seen empty store shelves like this. People have been calling this the new normal. I see nothing normal about it. I see it as our new reality.
Over the last couple of months, I’ve written a few letters/blogs about things to do to stay healthy, wonderful self-care practices, great herbs to fight viruses and pointers on how to re-frame our current situation. Today I am writing personal thoughts, to let you know I am well, both thriving and up against some issues during this time.
The NEW businesswoman
My days are filled with projects- painting, gardening, organizing and enjoying this catch-up time to the best of my ability. The flip side is that I have almost daily Zoom calls to understand grants and loans for small business. After 39.5 years in practice, I know I am a great Rolfer, but a lousy business owner and someone with basic computer skills that don’t cut it. I am asking different people for help in ways I thought I’d never have to- what’s a DBA? What? I need a business checking account? What? How do I fill out that application and send it back? What? You didn’t receive my application?!
I miss my practice, miss my clients, miss our conversations and how we share our stories. I miss touching people all day. I miss hugging. I miss my volunteering both as a mentor to a young girl and going to Hartford Hospital every other Wednesday with my dogs to bring cheer to folks at the Gray Cancer Center. I miss having a real schedule and at the end of the day, knowing that I helped people feel better. I want my life back.
The learner
I’ll always learn from whatever situation I’m in, so many lessons and much goodness are coming out of this down time. The first miracle of this time apart/together is that my family- my wonderful 91 year old mom in Florida, my sister here in West Hartford and my niece and nephews in Brooklyn have all made the time and commitment to do a Family Zoom once a week. We just hang out together. It has been such a blessing to be a family again and share this sacred time. We each have our limitations- the kids are stuck in their apartments almost afraid to go out since NYC and Brooklyn are in harm’s way. My mom is healthy and well and beginning to sit outside with friends keeping socially distant and out of the hot sun. My sister doesn’t leave her home as she has had lung issues the last couple of years. I hike with my dogs and a few friends in very out of way places, keeping apart but happy to breathe the fresh air and feel the beauty of nature. I no longer take that for granted.
Exactly two years ago, I had my shoulder surgery and was out of work for 4 or 5 months. It was a precursor to this time off except back then my pain was horrid and I was barely surviving those first 2 or 3 months. Now, I have a strong, healthy body and all this time to catch up on things I haven’t been able to do in the last couple of years. I am re-edging and weeding all my gardens. I repainted the deck, the furniture on the deck and will redo the other deck as soon as the rain stops for a few days. I repainted my long office shelf, did a deep clean of my Rolfing® room and repainted most of the window sills throughout my house. I sleep very well because I am exhausted by the end of the day.
I am sad when I watch the news, hear those numbers and then see the lines of people waiting for food in our state and all over the country. My heart breaks for those kids who are graduating with no fanfare, no certain future and without good-byes. I was amazed that it took only a few days for Covid-19 related commercials to flood the airways. The message is perfectly clear- we are in this together- alone/together.
I wish you wonderful health, patience, great connections with loved ones and easy days. We will come out of this, altered, filled with gratitude and inspired by the strength of our humanity. Like all of our world, I am armed with masks, wipes, gloves and sprays. I am here if you need me.