In late April 2020, I decided to take a quarantine staycation. More than a month into my pandemic quarantine, I felt depleted. I felt like I had nothing to say in my blog. I needed to pause and replenish my body, heart and soul. Who knew that my hiatus would turn into such a transformational 4 months?! Sometimes the best way to move forward is to take a step back. Here’s what I learned during my summer quarantine staycation.
Respond Constructively
Why did I call it a staycation, instead of quarantine or confinement? I did not want to be defined by my circumstance, but my response to it. The choice of “staycation” reminded me to make the most of staying home. I was not in control of my location, but I was certainly free to choose my attitude. Dr. Fred Kofman calls this response-ability.
Be Thankful for Past Trials
Past hardships teach us powerful lessons. Living through Hurricane Maria prepared me for some of the challenges we have faced this summer. After the hurricane, I simplified my finances to deal without work for long periods. I learned how to better cope with prolonged uncertainty. Lessons from that time also showed me patterns I wanted to avoid in future stressful situations. Seeing thousands die made me understand my individual responsibility in a public health crisis. It also made me abundantly aware of my privilege.
In Chaos, Simplify
Pandemic, injustice, upheaval, economic free fall, storms – the world seemed to be in absolute chaos. While the storm raged outside, I needed calm in my personal environment. So, I simplified and went back to basics: cooking simple foods and tending my plants. I pared down my belongings and organized my space. I developed easy routines so I would not add to the sense of general chaos.
Create Space Through Silence
Instead of trying to make sense of the craziness happening in the world, I sat in silence. I have never spent so long just gazing out the window, listening to the birds chirping. By clearing my mind, I invited new ideas and possibilities.
Listen and Be Okay with Not Knowing
Why must we have an opinion about everything – even things we know nothing about? So many people have asked me what I think about masks, lock downs, school re-openings, defunding the police, etc. My answer: “I don’t know. Let’s listen to the experts.” I have focused on listening instead of forming opinions. It has been a great gateway to growth and collaboration with other people.
Learning is Life Affirming
This summer, I focused my energy on learning. I took online courses and joined very diverse discussion groups. Learning new things reminded me that the world is full of possibilities and wonder. In a summer so full of strife and death, it was life affirming to experience growth and rebirth.
Let in the Light
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
I let in the light, both physically and emotionally. All my windows were open. My social media was full of constructive optimism and people helping each other. I was inspired by those who are still trying to make the world a better place in a joyful way. Challenging times call for the best in our humanity.
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What have you learned this summer? How did you approach your quarantine staycation?
