As we move into another week of shelter in place (SIP) that may or may not end April 30, everyone is learning to adapt to less space andmore time to fill. I’ve noticed a few interesting developments in the conversations I have with people and see online. Even though we remain in isolation, we stay connected.
Here is my “Why Did it Take a Pandemic to Do This List?”
1Get creative and crafty. People are working with their hands as a form of stress relief. Some are returning to former hobbies or testing skills to learn something new. I have a friend in New Orleans making stunning decorative eggs. Another signed up for a calligraphy course. Another isknitting. Thousands signed up for an online creativity program hosted by award-winning writer Suleika Jaouad called “The Isolation Journals.” Numerous free classes are now offerlessons inwatercolor, collage, vision boards, poetry and more on Instagram and YouTube.
2. Learn to sew. As people scramble to make homemade masks, they reach for the sewing machine. A friend posted an image of a quilt she made. I wish I had taken those sewing lessons my mother gave me as a young girl more seriously. Will we turn to making handmade clothes? Here is a link to one of many instructive videos on how to make a homemade mask Read more here
3. Cook at home and really enjoy it. I am a member of a few online communities sharing recipes. Baking bread has become so popular that some areas report shortages in yeast and flour. Read more here And if you feel you could use a little inspiration, many well-known chefs, like Massimo Bottura, Thomas Keller and Marc Murphy offer free online lessons.
4. Grow your vegetables. As food shortages continue and the source and safety of foods remain a concern, people are turning to home gardens, both inside and outdoors. Tomato plants seem to be top sellers. Read more here
5. Drink that great bottle of wine. Why wait for that eventual celebration to pull a fabulous wine from your cellar when you can drink it during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic? Want to learn more about wine? Join an online tasting group. Many wineries whose tasting rooms are now closed offer free virtual tastings on Instagram.
6. Socialize via the Virtual Happy Hour:This is a great way to see people and enjoy a conversation when you can’t be together in person. I think about all my friends overseas and across the country who I usually chat with by What’s App or phone. Use Zoom and you virtually chat over lunch, drinks or dinner and visit with family and friends around the world. It’s the next best thing to being there in person and it’s better than eating and drinking alone. Read more here
7. Take daily walks. This is the easiest, most affordable way to refresh your body and mind while maintaining a distance. David and I find during our daily walks that,after six years living in the Hudson Valley full-time, we now see more of our neighbors out walking.
8. Read books. Play board and card games and tackle jigsaw puzzles. Many of these items languished on shelves or in closets. Now people are bringing them out again.
9.Wash our hands correctly and reconsider food safety. After this I will always wear gloves to grocery shop and select fresh foods out of consideration for my health as well as for the safety of others. I cringe when I see people sorting through fresh goods with their bare hands now. I also learned during last week’s edition of Fearless Fabulous You with food safety expert Mareya Ibrahim, how to properly clean your store-bought food when bring it home (see tips below).
10. Respect human contact.I asked people on Facebook what they miss and value the most right now during isolation. The #1 answer was “a hug.” With so many families, friends and loved ones distanced, even as much as a few blocks, we’ll never take personal contact for granted. We’ll also retain a respect for space and over-crowding. Everyone needs both their physical and mental space, as well as that hug.
Despite the fear for our health and safety and the sadness over lost lives and lost time, this time of isolation has allowed many to take a step back to reflect on what matters most. We realize what we can no longer take for granted and we hope everyone will be kinder to themselves, to each other and to the earth.
Why did it take a pandemic to figure this out?
