I’ve been quarantined in Baltimore for the last week in a hotel room (one more week to go and then I can see my son, Will, who is recovering from a bone marrow transplant).
A Purposeful Pause
I have to say I really miss going outside. Here in Maryland, the rules are very strict. There are no people in the streets and it has a very eerie quietness to a city that is usually loud and bustling with activity. I walked outside yesterday for the first time in a week and was shocked by how completely vacant the sidewalks were on such a nice day. I saw a handful of people and every single person I saw was wearing a mask and keeping their distance. Because it was Easter, I ordered takeout and even the delivery driver was wearing personal protective gear—a mask and gloves. Such an odd experience for a holiday.
There are some fun benefits of being quarantined alone. You can do whatever you want in your small space without judgment. I cannot confirm nor deny playing “hot lava” like I did as a kid! You can take naps without being disturbed. You can watch seriously IQ reducing television. Yep, I binged the entire docuseries “Tiger King”. Pretty sure Carole Baskin killed her husband but I’m working on an elaborate disappearance theory carried out by her former playboy husband. You can eat chips and salsa for breakfast and no one thinks you’re weird. You can read a book cover to cover without getting up. And the list goes on!
So while this time can feel really confining and constrained for you, remember it’s also fraught with opportunity. Take the time to reflect and find yourself. Engage in playfulness just for the fun of it. Sleep and rest to rejuvenate your body. Reengage your imagination and get creative. Write, draw, paint, bake, craft, create, rest, love.
I don’t believe we each need to use this time to learn a new language or to use every minute productively. I am advocating we all take a purposeful pause and revel in the slow and deliberate pace of our days and nights. Engage all of your senses with the environment around you. And feel grateful for this purposeful pause that has allowed each of us to step away from the busyness of our lives and stripped us down to reveal what really matters.
