Lessons I’ve learned during quarantine:
1. I don’t hate walking. I hate walking unruly dogs. These are two entirely different endeavors. Walking alone, listening to a podcast or chatting with a friend, is entirely enjoyable. Walking with my husband or my son is equally pleasant. Walking with my entire family or any combination of dogs is distinctly unenjoyable. Having learned this lesson, I now look forward to frequent, low-intensity exercise.
2. Trying on clothes is highly overrated. Browsing Amazon and trusting the reviews of hundreds of other people who are approximately my size yields tremendous results. Also, returns are not as difficult as I always told myself. Having learned this lesson, I now own three of the exact same pair of flattering yoga pants and four comfy, cute tunic tops that also cover my butt. Win-Win.
3. Birds are significantly more interesting than I originally thought.
4. I have underestimated my ability to grow things. In the past, I always thought I had a black thumb. In actuality, I just had a high failure to attempt ratio. Having increased the sheer number of attempts, I have thus increased my confidence. This has led to recently planted herbs and tomatoes. I will be sure to report the results.
5. Zoom is an app that exists. It is both a lifesaver and a burden.
6. Two glasses of wine is exactly the right number. Unless the circumstances call for five. It’s entirely your call.
7. Crocs are underrated. For my whole life, I have resided distinctly in the “You-will-never-see-me-with-those-ugly-things-on-my-feet” camp. Plantar fasciitis, flimsy slippers, and rare chances to leave the house combined with my daughter’s commitment to this ugly footwear spurred me to give them a shot. I will never wear slippers again. I haven’t converted so much that plan to leave the house in them, though.
8. Too much work makes everyone miserable.
9. Too much forced fun makes everyone miserable.
10. Each member of my family has a natural rhythm. I am slowly learning to trust their rhythms and listen to my own. For sure, we sometimes spend too much time watching Netflix or playing video games. But each and every one of us tires of inactivity. This threshold is different for every one of us. But even left to their own devices, each child will emerge from his or her bedroom, seeking connection, or nature, or activity in their own way. My daughter bakes and calls friends and washes her car. My eldest son draws and plays with his pets and curls up next to me for a late night movie marathon. The youngest builds and destroys and pulls out the board games. Perhaps this has been the hardest lesson of all. I don’t need to exert control nearly as much as I thought. I don’t need to manufacture family fun or constantly cajole in order for my family to make healthy choices. The relief in this realization is palpable.
That’s the short list, for now. What lessons have you learned (or re-learned) during this quarantine? I’d love to hear from you!
Love this one! Thanks so much for your ideas and insights!