social isolation – Barbara Heagy

One year ago today, a world pandemic was declared. We all figured it would be over in a couple of weeks and how great that we could work from home, there was no school, our regular obligations were now on standstill. It felt a little bit like a declared holiday. Little did we know how long it would last.

The pandemic has been difficult in many ways — the social isolation, the fear and anxiety, the loss of jobs and income, and sickness and death. We lost everything that we had considered normal. Our new normal became mask-wearing, social distancing, regular hand washing, and staying home and away from family and friends as much as possible.

And yet, the pandemic had some benefits for me. I was given the gift of time, quiet time for myself. It made me reassess everything in my life. I used to zip around like a spinning top; attending my aqua fit classes, going to my writing and photography clubs, visiting friends and babysitting grandchildren on a regular schedule. Suddenly I was released from all of that and it made me really look at how much I was doing in my life because of a sense of obligation or guilt.

With COVID restrictions, life slowed down. I began to walk more with my camera in hand. I discovered my own neighbourhood in a new way. I was able to stop and listen to nature around me. I appreciated family and friends more as we made time for each other with phone calls, FaceTime and/or social distanced visits. Those visits became special and cherished. I began some new hobbies and pastimes. Fishing, walking, cooking, gardening, board games and reading became favoured activities. Life had fewer options but I valued them more.

Now, one year later, with the promise of vaccines and the coming of spring and warmer weather, we are given some hope. We have a chance for a new beginning, to live a different life as we go forward, one where we make better choices for ourselves and our world. Let us remember the lessons we’ve learned about what is truly important in life and let’s let them affect our daily lives in the upcoming future. And, most of all, may there be hugs, millions and zillions of hugs.

I read an interesting article this morning when I opened up my computer — “Lockdown was supposed to be an introvert’s paradise. It’s not” by Abby Ohlheiser in online Technology Review. It speaks of this lockdown and social isolation we are all experiencing with COVID-19. Introverts feel relieved. Finally! They love social isolation and are good at it and yet they have always been criticized for it and pressured into being more socially active. Suddenly we are all in the same boat, stuck at home.

Ohlheiser says, “[A]s people began to adjust to isolation, they started to find ways to bring their outside social lives into their homes.

People are coping with the coronavirus pandemic by upending their lives and attempting to virtually re-create what they lost. The new version, however, only vaguely resembles what we left behind . . . The result, for introverts, extroverts, and everyone in between, is the bizarre feeling of being socially overwhelmed despite the fact that we’re staying as far away from each other as we can.”

I know I have experienced this. I am an extrovert and have always been on the go, attending a workout class or club, taking a workshop, and visiting family and friends. When I was suddenly thrust into my own home with nowhere to go, I found instant relief on the Internet. In one day, I took part in a Sound Bath Get-Together, sat with others for a short meditation, took an online dance session, and that night attended an online Slam Poetry session, as well as chatting it up with family and friends on both my telephone and video chat. In between I could cruise through Facebook and my e-mail catching others comments, jokes, memes, games, poetry and online journals or virtually wander through a museum or art gallery. If that wasn’t enough, I could Netflix binge or watch the constant stream of media attention on the latest coronavirus news worldwide.

I was able to do it for one day. It was overwhelming. I realized I had replaced my busy life with a virtual one, one that wasn’t at all like the real thing. So I began to read, write, cook, and clean. Now I go outside for long walks with my camera in hand, carefully taking into consideration government bylaws and suggestions as they change daily, practising six foot social distancing, washing my hands and changing clothes when I return to my own home.

It is difficult adjusting to this isolated virtual world. We have been told by the experts that this could go on for 1 1/2 to 2 years. If it does, we all will be changed. Let us hold on to our humanity, be aware of loving and caring for our small circles, those most important to us, and finding healthy connections wherever we find them through nature and other life-building activities. All the best to you. Someday this will end.