Last night I cried, and I realized it wasn’t because I was upset about COVID19 or even worried about the future. I just wanted to do something normal. My whole life, as with most of us, has revolved around this crisis for the last few weeks.
I realize that I’m able to start finding normal again because I don’t have an essential job that requires the long hours I know many are putting in the medical and delivery sector. But I think that even those who are, need to find ways to be normal during this time.
Have Normal Conversations
I don’t know about you but I feel like every conversation I’ve had for the past three weeks has been about COVID19 in one way or another. I’m ready to find something else to talk about.
Tell funny stories, share memories, make plans for when this is over. Read books and watch shows then talk about them. Find something, anything to discuss except the pandemic. Maybe make family dinner time a crisis-free zone. Pose an interesting question and then discuss it together.
Be Creative!
Art and beauty are more needed than ever. We need things to lift us up and carry us beyond our daily grind. For those of us who are physically isolated to our homes we need to be transported, at least in mind and spirit, if not in body. Creativity can do that.
Try something new, if you have the supplies. Dig out those kits or materials you’ve been saving for a rainy day. Take an hour on a Saturday or, if you are among the many not working at all right now, take a day to devote to your new creative endeavor.
Do something to make the world around you more beautiful. Click To TweetSeek God
Seek God. Even you don’t consider yourself a person of faith. Don’t just go to God over the why’s and wherefores of this virus and its effect on our world. Pursue deeper truth and understanding. Ask the big questions and listen for the simple answers. Get personal and relational with a Father who wants you to know him better, not just in crisis but in the everyday.
We don’t know how long this will last, but we can’t just keep collectively holding our breath. We need to starting inhaling and exhaling as normal and find other ways to make our days worthwhile.
Such a simple thought–yet such an Aha! I think that a big difference for me is having three kiddos at home. Because we’re focused on schooling and getting outside and so. much. eating!….I often find I don’t think big and wide until bedtime. At which time I feel as though I spend my days between two totally different worlds…maintaining some sense of normalcy with my family and worrying about my parents in NY state…wondering if we’ll wake up and this will have been a nightmare…all the thoughts. I love your post. It makes me think I need to have at least one normal-for-me thing in each of my days, since distance learning has hit full throttle. Today it was making a delicious Earl Grey London Fog. Tomorrow, I think it will be getting out to my garden in the sunshine. Thank you!
Normal time, normal activity–yes, we need it! Last week I was watching too much news. I received an e-mail that alerted me to a hymn sing hosted by Keith & Kristen Getty (on Facebook). I tuned in to watch their family lead singing from their home with their little girls. It was so refreshing! I am glad that they are continuing with the hymn sings every Tuesday evening.