One year ago today, a world pandemic was declared. We all figured it would be over in a couple of weeks and how great that we could work from home, there was no school, our regular obligations were now on standstill. It felt a little bit like a declared holiday. Little did we know how long it would last.
The pandemic has been difficult in many ways — the social isolation, the fear and anxiety, the loss of jobs and income, and sickness and death. We lost everything that we had considered normal. Our new normal became mask-wearing, social distancing, regular hand washing, and staying home and away from family and friends as much as possible.
And yet, the pandemic had some benefits for me. I was given the gift of time, quiet time for myself. It made me reassess everything in my life. I used to zip around like a spinning top; attending my aqua fit classes, going to my writing and photography clubs, visiting friends and babysitting grandchildren on a regular schedule. Suddenly I was released from all of that and it made me really look at how much I was doing in my life because of a sense of obligation or guilt.
With COVID restrictions, life slowed down. I began to walk more with my camera in hand. I discovered my own neighbourhood in a new way. I was able to stop and listen to nature around me. I appreciated family and friends more as we made time for each other with phone calls, FaceTime and/or social distanced visits. Those visits became special and cherished. I began some new hobbies and pastimes. Fishing, walking, cooking, gardening, board games and reading became favoured activities. Life had fewer options but I valued them more.
Now, one year later, with the promise of vaccines and the coming of spring and warmer weather, we are given some hope. We have a chance for a new beginning, to live a different life as we go forward, one where we make better choices for ourselves and our world. Let us remember the lessons we’ve learned about what is truly important in life and let’s let them affect our daily lives in the upcoming future. And, most of all, may there be hugs, millions and zillions of hugs.