It feels odd to me to say this: I am going to have to mow my lawn today. That statement feels odd to me for two reasons. First, it is still March...how do I already need to mow? And yet, the towering blades of grass out my window indicate that it is, indeed, time. Secondly, in our world where so many of our weekly routines have been transformed, it feels odd to actually find myself really needing to perform a “normal” activity.
As some of the initial, uncomfortable parts of the adjustment period to life during a pandemic begin to wear off, it is interesting to reflect on some of the things that this is teaching us. My lesson for today is: ‘Not everything has changed.’ The yard still needs to be mowed. Earlier this week, one of my friends who is an elementary music school teacher in Colorado also helped give this moment some perspective by sharing the following on her Facebook page:
In the year 2030...
Freshman College Student: “In history class, we learned that the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020 was really bad. What was it like?”
Parent: “Well, everything was shut down in an attempt to kill the virus, but not everyone followed the order to quarantine for 15 days, so it lasted longer than anyone expected. Many people died who shouldn't have. Grocery stores were out of everything because people were hoarding as much as they could. We were scared of economic failure for our country and for ourselves because we couldn't work. Don't you remember it? You were 8.”
Freshman: “All I remember was the school closing and being homeschooled. I remember doing scavenger hunts in our yard. I remember eating meals as a family for a change. I remember getting great sleep because I wasn't up late for homework or getting up early for school. I remember board games as a family. I remember watching our pastor on our laptop. Honestly, it was the happiest time of my childhood.”
This hypothetical future really resonated with me because of one terrible snowstorm in 1993. My family lived in the mountains of East Tennessee, and we were hit by the worst snowstorm (in that region) in a lifetime. Three feet of snow fell with drifts up to five feet...in an area far enough south to have no equipment to manage that amount of snowfall.
We were without power for a week. My entire family had to move into the living room where we had a wood-burning fireplace. We hung sheets over the entryways to the room to keep the heat from dissipating into the rest of the house. We slept on bed mats and couches and literally spent the entire seven days in one room together. Some neighbors who didn’t have fireplaces had to move in with other neighbors who did. We lived on a rural road through the woods, but folks living along the road walked through the snow to check on one another and shared firewood to ensure every family could stay warm. I don’t remember how there was enough food for everyone since there was no way to go to a grocery store, but I also don’t remember anyone going without. I was 12.
While my parents likely remember it as a stressful time, a time when their two kids drove them crazy, or a time when they worried about making sure my sister and I were taken care of, it is one of my absolute favorite childhood memories. To me, it was like a week-long camping trip in the living room! My Mom and Dad were both home all day every day and we got the entire week off school! What more could a kid want?
Obviously, this pandemic is not the same as a snowstorm. Likewise, for those fighting the disease, their experience is not characterized by time with family playing games. But for the many of us who are primarily spending time in our homes social distancing, now that you’ve had a week or so to adjust, can you begin to think of some ways that this time could be good for you? Even in the midst of trying times, it can be helpful to actively work to find a positive outlook. So I ask again, what are some ways this time could be good for you?
Good for your family?
Good for the world?
Good for the earth?
Good for your faith?
Feel free to reply and share your ideas for a more positive outlook.