Overall, Vermonters have been lucky during this pandemic, in comparison with many other locations in the US, and internationally. Still, for most people the sudden unforeseen rewriting of our lives has been stressful and difficult to manage.
Today, in January, I am realizing that the current circumstances won’t go away anytime soon. Instead of pining for the past, and trying to keep up elements of life before the pandemic which remind me of normalcy as it once was, I have decided to take stock and relinquish habits which are now likely obsolete, and replace them with new adaptive choices and actions suited to the current situation with an eye to the post-pandemic future. Many of these adjustments may already have been made by those reading this—to me, they are new.
First on the list is no longer relying on sedentary activities—driving to work, working at a desk, driving home, then sitting some more—to fill my days. These days, I break up my work schedule at least once, often twice with a brisk walk outside. Since September, my routine has progressed from ten minutes of walking to fifty. As can be expected, the benefits to mood as well as stamina have been profound.
Concurrent with daily walks, the direct interaction with the natural world has arguably been the best thing to come out of this tragedy – laden time period. I’ve set up a bird feeder in our back yard—only one, plus suet—and the entertainment of watching chickadees, nuthatches, cardinals, titmice, woodpeckers, and yes, the jays too has raised my spirits every single day. Walking down our dirt road or along the West River Trail and really observing the trees brings me out of my own consternation in ways that no amount of talking can achieve.
Finally, returning to letter writing as a form of communication has made me feel connected to friends and allowed me to choose my words carefully as there is no backspace button. I have tried to send cards which add color and beauty to the recipients’ lives, and by doing so have the gratification of knowing I have lessened their feelings of isolation.
Feeling connected is of course key during these times, and when we can’t see our loved ones in person, our well-being is heavily challenged. Social media does so little to counter this—the value of one-to-one communication, even if it is virtual, is so important to share. Pushing through the enforced solitude and reaching out to at least one or two loved ones each day will help all of us weather the remaining months of distancing ahead.
