When the Pandemic Lifts

Mar 18

It’s an interesting feeling to know that the pandemic will end soon. With vaccines becoming more available to the public, we can see that we are almost out of the woods. And although we need to continue to do diligence with mask wearing, social distancing and waiting a few weeks after the 2nd dose...the end is palpable.

Now I know we’ve all had it up to here (envision my hand at my head gesture) with this thing and are ready to bust open the doors of freedom and connection. That being said, I find I have a small bit of anxiety bubble up when I think of things becoming normal. And, I’m not sure why.

I know the shoulds. I should be excited for things to be better, for the virus to go away, everything to be open, and the opportunity to live and lead a life like we used to. There is something inside me that renders me to pause and sort while in this posture of waiting.

Like most extroverts, I’m excited to see people and do things without all of the worrying/mask wearing/decision making/wondering what they will think and measured thoughts that it takes to just see someone. Things that I enjoy will open up; like community theater and dance classes and seeing family.

However, I bare witness to something that has been easy. The less hurried life. The empty calendar dates. The tempered down practices in sports and the lack of pressure to do or host anything. There has been beauty in this slow living.

As organizations send me dates for sign ups, camps, games and performances; gearing up for what they hope will be a fairly normal season for their program, I’m flooded with a clenching of teeth and a pit in my stomach. These are physical cues to myself to take notice. All the places I need to be. All the things I need to remember. All the people that have their things. The onset of activity steam rolls my heart and I grasp to get everything on the calendar. I sit with mixed emotions.

I will not miss the solitude of the pandemic season, but I will miss the space it held.

Before we head into the opening up of our planners, I wonder if this intermittent time calls for a bit of reflection. According to Claude Monet,

“It’s on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way, so we must delve and dig unceasingly.”

Desiring to be both wise and ready for when the pandemic lifts, I will listen to this inner struggle and give it the stillness it needs…while this whole thing takes its time to unwrap. Perhaps you’d like to join me on the journey of uncovering?