Time feels distorted to me since the start of the COVID outbreak. For me, the month of June moved quickly. By that I mean, time passed quickly and also, life started moving more quickly. With social distancing restrictions lifting and more stores opening, life has become busier. It's not how it was before, but a lot more so than it was since March. My feelings about this quick movement is mixed. On the one hand, it is great to be able to socialize more, to see businesses and restaurants opening up and more people out in the world. On the other hand, the risk of contracting COVID-19 is still relatively high, especially in some countries. Jumping back into our old ways of living so quickly might not be the best option.
At the start of the month I posed these questions."How do you want move forward in this newly, opening world? AND what are you most longing to experience this summer?"
I said that I wanted to continue to consume less and preserve some of that simplicity I experienced in March through April. At the same time I was longing to connect with more of my friends and family in a way that is respectful of everyone's safety and savour and appreciate what a treasure that is, after distancing from them for months. I feel like I did what I intended to do. This month I had outdoor dinners with my parents, had our book club wind up dinner on one member's beautiful deck, celebrated birthdays, retirement and Father's Day. And I loved every one of these events. Did we follow COVID safety guidelines? I am not sure. The boundaries aren't so clear now, so it is hard to know. It seems that different groups have different comfort levels on how to proceed. It is too hard to see things as black and white. Everything is a murky grey.
I think one of the things I am learning from this time of re-emergence in the world is to become more comfortable with uncertainty and complexity. It is requiring me to be flexible and open-minded. Another catalyst for becoming more open-minded and thoughtful of complex issues has been the surge of awareness about racism. Perhaps it is because the world was at home, watching the news, that they really felt the impact of George Floyd's death. Maybe this pandemic has brought people together in our effort to combat a common foe. We are less likely to view ourselves as separate from people in other countries or of other races. This virus had made it clear that we are all connected and we all impact each other and the world. So if I was craving connection in the month of June, I am even more aware of how essential connection to people is for me and for all of us.
What did you learn from the month of June? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please share anything you would like in the comments below, in our Weekly ONE Thing Facebook Group or on Facebook or any other social media.Your insights can influence and inspire other people. I look forward to reading your posts!
And be sure to watch for my July post on Monday, July 6th!