| I don’t know if anyone is really putting on pants. Although I do have a pair on right now. |
Homebound and isolated as we are, there is a silver lining. We now finally have the time to clean our venetian blind slats, remove the fluff out of our window screens with tweezers, and learn to clog dance. And get reacquainted with our natural hair colour. |
| This new term, “Social Distancing” is a misnomer. We really should be calling it “Physical Distancing”, because now is when we need to be more social than ever. Phones are things that work even when we are not in a pandemic and we should be taking advantage of them. |
Many are struggling with this physical alienation, and for good reason. We are social beings with a natural need for connection. Now more than ever, we need to stay connected because we won’t and can’t, get through this alone. Now more than ever, we need each other. And now has never been a better time to do some good. It’s a strange – and paradoxically delicious feeling of getting up every morning realizing that no one is here, nor will be, and for who knows how long. And that I am not going anywhere, except for my daily walk – and that at a distance. |
In reflecting back to “normal”, never in a million years did I ever think that spending three months in rural Spain a few years ago, mainly in solitude and silence, was preparing me for this.
As further practice, I did not engage in social media or phone calls, listen to radio or podcasts, or watch movies and TV.
There was nowhere to go, no one to see, and nothing to do.
No distractions, no duties, no obligations.
Alone in that remote, but stunningly beautiful place, I recognized early on that In order to keep myself from going completely mad and not be painfully lonely, I needed to implement a very stringent routine.
So I woke up at the same time every morning and made myself a light breakfast. At 9 a.m. I walked to the village cafe (village being an grand overstatement), for my cafe con leche, then back home to write for 4 hours. I made lunch and then went for my 2 hour walk in the deserted countryside.
My daily walk was an important discipline because much of my thinking was only possible while on foot, a kind of hedgerow philosophizing. Walking kept me in motion and swayed me from despondency.
As Robert Macfarlane writes in The Old Ways, “walking is a reconnoiter inwards.” Walking enabled me to have more sight and thought, feeling and knowing, rather than escape and dismissal. It was a unit of progress.
After my walk, I read until it was time to prepare my 6 p.m. supper. I spent the rest of the evening either reading or editing.
And the day closed on itself.
This was a time of reflection and aloneness, but mostly it taught self-discipline and the grace of endurance.
The grace of endurance.
And joy as a calling.
This is what is being asked of us at this time.
Because we humans have a common experience, not only of this pandemic, but the fact that life is temporary and provisional.
| In that I can’t phone all of you in one day, I thought that we could have this mundane conversation via technology. (You are welcome to respond via technology, as my phone is ringing off the hook.) So here goes. |
What is your daily routine? My favourite daily activity is, but not limited to, sitting around all day on the couch and occasionally moving from the couch to the table. Clearly I am a woman with diversified interests. I have also signed up with some chat groups, my favourite being “Chair Chat” where we share and discuss photos of chairs that are uncomfortable. |
| What was the best thing that happened today? It’s easy to be unabashedly grateful when things are going well. It’s definitely more difficult during this time of stress, unknowing and even danger. For me, was finding the lid to a Tupperware container on the first try. |
| How are you staying fit? This Christmas I made a bet with my sister that I could learn how to dunk a basketball. My home training now comprises of watching videos of Micheal Jordan and hip-hop dancing. It’s very intense. And my dog is a decent stand-in for a yoga instructor. You know. Downward Facing Dog. |
| Have you started a new hobby? I’ve taken up identifying backyard insects. Two so far. But they won’t tell me their names. What are you reading? I know you would love to tell me you are catching up on your heady reading with ‘“The Brothers Karamozov,” or “Dr. Suess”, but your partner may read this and they’ll know it’s not true. Accountability is still king. Even in a pandemic. What are you watching? Instead of tuning in to The National Theatre to watch Benedict Cumberbatch play both Victor Frankenstein and his creature, you are probably Googling art that shows ants relaxing. I guess it can bring you joy. I am watching the neighbour’s cat pouncing on flies and trying to catch flying leaves. |
We now return to our regular programming. |
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