Not Quite Ready To Return To Normal? You’re Not Alone.
The light at the end of the pandemic tunnel may appear dim.
Let me preface this by stating that I am beyond thankful that we are making progress with the vaccine. I am humbled by the laborious efforts of the brilliant scientists that have stepped up to protect us and the incredible medical heroes that continue to battle for our loved ones every day.
There is an overwhelming amount of positivity with the prospect of life “going back to normal.” It means lives are being saved. Travel is picking up. Concerts and festivals will be back in action.
Of course getting to visit outside family members and friends will be nice, too. There has been a massive hug deficit going on, and I plan to make up for lost touch.
That said. I still can’t shake this feeling of apprehension around the idea of things going back to the way they were.
Offices are reopening.
The idea of having to go back to a traditional office setting kind of bums me out. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m super grateful to have a job during a time when so many people are not as lucky. I’m also thankful to have had the chance to work remote. But, I definitely get the appeal of a remote life!
I’ve been able to enjoy lunch with my husband every day.
Get to hang out with our furbaby all day.
Go on more walks to clear my head.
Cook and/or clean on breaks.
Start a meditation regime.
Stick to a workout plan.
Save money.
Drive less.
I seem to be even more productive at home vs. the office. Less interruptions lead to more flow. This year of working remote has opened my eyes to what could be, and I love it.
The ability to take quick, brisk walk to clear the mind and reset the brain (without judgement) has been refreshing. It’s so nice to step outside to get a quick dose of vitamin-D more often.
The pleasure of spending quality time with family is a simple comfort I didn’t know was missing from my life. Sipping our morning coffee together, taking a moment to enjoy each other’s company…Yes, please!
This year has taught me to slow. the. eff. down. I used to always be going going going.
There has been a shift in our society to focus on self-care, which is applaudable. Leaning into self-care has helped me cope with the stress of higher workloads and the unknown. The murky future is something we all must process in our own ways.
Before the pandemic, there was hardly a weekend I didn’t have something in the books. Meeting up with friends, going to concerts, attending events. You name it.
During the pandemic, the calendar was clear. Depressing to an extent, sure, but I tried to look at it as an opportunity to catch up on the art of staying in.
Reading more. Learning a new trade. Embracing the no-bra life. I actually quite enjoyed my newfound lifestyle. My introvert friends were on to something!
The return of obligations.
Obligations are a part of our lives whether we like it or not. There seems to always be a birthday party. A promotion to celebrate. A wedding. Someone moving. Countless other events we tend to commit to — regardless of our desire to go.
Most of the time our obligations turn out to be fun, but sometimes you’re just tired and don’t feel like going anywhere.
The pandemic was our “get out of jail free card” that had a glorious no-questions-asked clause. We got to escape obligations for a whole year, which in some cases was kind of a nice change of pace.
This global catastrophe has shaken everyone’s outlook on life. Some things we deemed so important before seem so superficial now. Health is paramount, and we all see that now. Something we take for granted all too often.
A new outlook on life.
As we claw ourselves out from this perilous journey, we have a new lens to look through. Everyone can now see through the bullshit and recognize the important things in life, like our health and our relationships. It has made us reevaluate our careers and how we want to live our lives.
This is why the notion of “going back to normal” turns me off a little. I want to keep the values we’ve ascertained through this hailstorm alive. We’ve seen an outpouring of support from neighbors towards one another. People giving their homes some TLC and embracing the now. Learning new things. Enjoying our own company. Saving money and slowing down. Spending time with our bubble buddies.
I welcome the safety of venturing out again and being able to hug freely. I welcome concerts and getting together with friends and family with open arms.
I guess when it comes down to it — the light isn’t that dim. It managed to shine some light on what is truly important to our lives. It reminds us not to take the simple things for granted and to cherish our relationships.
