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Open Thread: What Have You Learned?

By Virge Friday, May 8, 2020 7 Comments Share This:

In last Sunday’s Open Thread, we asked you to share what positive lessons the lockdown has taught you. It could be triggered by something as simple as a pair of sneakers, or as complex and serious as a brush with the virus itself….and which get you through this challenging time.

Read the comments below and add your insight or discovery – share your wisdom!

Every morning I lace up my new sneakers and go for my morning walk/run. Every time I do, it reminds me of my newly acquired motto: Do it Now. The “now” isn’t about the exercise (although that’s true). It’s about the decision to stop waiting for a sale or till I felt like it to buy something I need and use every day.

Every time I lace up I thank my lucky stars that I didn’t wait for the perfect moment (or the last moment) to take care of something I needed to do. If I had waited just two more weeks, all the department stores would have been closed. I would have been stuck with my hole-y, run-down, shin-splint inducing old sneaks.

I just wish I had paid more attention to some other tasks. My wonderful stereo has been mute for months and months because the turntable doesn’t work (and probably needs a new band). Dealing with it has been on my to-do list for months and months. Now I have no idea when I can get it fixed, or even how, since so many stores – including the ones that might have been able to fix it – are closed and may never reopen. I wish I had done it, now.

This new motto – and the lesson I learned about it – has been instrumental in getting over my procrastination about filing important (but pesky) paperwork and personal administrative tasks, about dumb household chores I’ve been putting off for months and projects I’ve always meant to “get around to.” (Naturally the fact that I’m housebound has a lot to do with it, too!) But it also means I won’t put off contacting a friend, or checking in with people, or even stopping for some self-care like doing my nails.

How about you? What lesson has the quarantine taught you that has changed your life for the better? Let us know in the comments and we’ll update this column with your lessons on Friday.

Photo by Stanislav Kondratiev on Unsplash

COMMENTS

7 responses to “Open Thread: What Have You Learned?”

Farrell:

Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 10:21pm

Living in a life plan community I was following Arizona nursing home rules for 3 weeks before making a run to the ER for a 3 day hospital stay. I had to use public transportation to return home. I was placed on total quarantine for 14 days. On nextdoor.com help map I found 4 strangers willing to shop for me to deliver distilled water for my oxygen generator. Closer to my apartment a few fellow residents called me and 3 of those fine people took out my recyclables and picked up my snail mail . I have learned that I am not so great when left isolated.

Reply to Farrell
1. Fran:
  
  Friday, May 15, 2020 at 6:23pm
  
  Next time remember that Medicare and/or your Medicare Advantage Plan almost always allows for a certain number of drives to and from the hospital, free of charge. Check it out with your plan.
  
  Reply to Fran
Deborah Goldberg:

Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 2:20pm

I have had two surgeries since January, the second in and out on March 10. I date my quarantine since then. We do walk, with the dog and without. I am 77, have worked pretty continuously as a physician. The place I work is now all Covid all the time. I did not return, Before my surgeries, before Covid 19, I saw myself as a machine, and would have pushed myself to return to work immediately. To my surprise, I haven’t. I respected my need to heal. To stop and regroup.
Learning new patterns takes time. I have a husband a son and a dog. I have learned a different kind of happiness- unexpected and strange.

Reply to Deborah Goldberg
Denise:

Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 1:37pm

I learned to remind myself of gratitude follow by pray. I learned to remember that action , still speak louder than words….so keep pushing myself to make life better….and not give up. I also learned to accept the words I heard in a Buddhist meeting” Winter always turns to Spring”; never in history has this not occurred…just like season after season. The stressors of health, home, and work will not last forever just like the seasons it will pass, but it is up to me not to give in or give up on improving my life conditions. Thanks

Reply to Denise
1. Leah Elias:
  
  Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 5:53pm
  
  Denise, Your comments said a lot to me. All were beautiful reminders that come and go in my brain. And need constant updating to remain on the path to a peaceful, happy, joyful, and loving existence. (usually not all at the same time) ! Also, a reminder that when we are down or depressed, none of the above exist alone or together.
  
  I am unable to print (out of ink) so I will keep your comments (and mine) in a place I can find it again. I think I would like to journal, however, I write too much, and then it becomes a chore. I am now committing to only writing a few lines, in no more than, 2 paragraphs. Thanks so much for all you shared.
  
  Reply to Leah Elias
Francesca:

Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 11:52am

I grew up in a family environment where my parents worked hard to provide a roof over our heads and reinforced that the most important things in life were simple pleasures of family meals and our gatherings. They were frugal and worked really hard so that we could have all the necessary things and saved for a rainy day. As I grew up and ran around and had fun and prized my friends…they said that the most important friend in my life was “the dollar in my pocket!” That is the truth, cause life cost money! So it is certainly true and I feel fortunate to have learned family values. I miss my social gatherings with friends and I am lucky today to have access to the internet and connect virtual. I miss getting my nails done and having a haircut! Covid-19 has reinforced all the things that are truly important in life and its simple…wash your hands! brush your teeth! love one another! Spread Joy not Germs!!

Once this is over I am doing a reverse quarantine and not coming home for a month!!!

Reply to Francesca
Darlene:

Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 11:22am

When it was announced that Covid 19 would shut us all in for 45-90 days, I changed my fixed mindset about work, shopping, entertainment, and socializing. I said-OK! I’m going to be home for the duration–time to get things in order, clean up, clean out, and focus on what needs to get done.
This not only means the physical space of things but the emotional and mental state. It has been a time of soul searching and clearing the mental clutter. Contemplating what REALLY are the priorities for the days ahead and how to best live the rest of our days in the present. I found myself thinking of the urgency to prepare for the final end. Not in a morbid way but taking on the challenge to get ahead of the eventuality. It’s still a work in progress.
On a lighter note, I’m still actively engaged in work (thankfully), socializing, exercising, and learning new things. Zooming the hours away. Streaming enjoyable movies, entertainment, and music have added a brightness to being home.

Reply to Darlene