slow·ly
/ˈslōlē/
adv.
a. at a slow speed; not quickly
In all honesty, I’ve lost track of how many days we’ve been at home.
First, because I’ve been living the SAHM life for the past six months, and second, because hubby often used to work from home anyway.
But I do know…
- This would normally be the first day back to school after March Break.
- The crucial 14 day window of self-isolation has not passed.
- It’s too soon to see the positive impact of this social distancing thing just yet.
- And we have a long way to go . . .
In my last post, I listed some simple things that we all took for granted before being stuck with nowhere to go.
However, as I’ve sat and observed life changing all around me, I’ve also noticed so many positive effects. It’s like the whole world has slowed, and we’re getting back to basics.
So, in no particular order, here are five ‘pluses’ to staying at home:
- Dinners as a Family — With zero commute time, my husband’s work day is significantly shorter. He can wrap things up by 5pm, rather than walking through the door at 7 or later. This means that we’ve been having a nice home-cooked meal every night so far, and baby girl seems to love when we all sit at the table together. It’s been so fun watching her try all kinds of new solid foods!
- Exploring the Outdoors — I’ve been trying to get out for a walk around the neighbourhood whenever the temperatures are warm enough, and let me tell you, the fresh air is good for the soul. Yesterday, hubby grabbed his camera and we went for a little walk down at the waterfront. We saw a few other people walking dogs or pushing babies in strollers, and we smiled and waved from afar. I don’t know why we all stayed inside so much before when we didn’t have to . . . ?
- Reading Books & Playing Board Games — Board games have always been a regular part of our family get-togethers, and I will never pass up a good book to read. It seems that other people are dedicating more time to these hobbies, as well, and I think it really helps to do something away from screens for a while.
- Less Pollution — I’ve seen a few reports online lately that this quarantine has had a positive impact on the environment. For example, in Wuhan, where air pollution has been a concern to public health, many locals under lockdown praised the return of blue skies. In fact, less travel and business has had an impact on pollution levels for the entire country, and similar trends are starting to be seen in Italy, as well. I even saw a recent video that shows dramatic transformation of the canal waters in Venice.
- Caring for Others — Despite the fear and panic in much of the media these days, you can also read plenty of heartwarming stories that demonstrate the good of humanity. I’ve read of grocery stores dedicating their first hour of the day for seniors and at-risk persons to shop. I’ve seen posts in Facebook groups offering to donate items to those in need. Churches are learning how to livestream so we can still fellowship together from our own homes. There are even creative ideas circulating about how to entertain your kids, decorate the neighbourhood, and get started with ‘homeschooling’. It’s actually incredible how the majority of us have joined together to protect the most vulnerable.
We have a lot to learn from this whole experience, and I sincerely hope that it causes some permanent positive changes in our society. Imagine how much greater our lives would be if we remembered to slow down more often, and take better care of our planet and each other.
Do you have any positive experiences from self-isolation? I’d love to hear them!