As a registered nurse, even though I am retired, I keep my license active which means I am required to have 24 continuing education hours every two years to renew. For the last year, all my CEs have been on Zoom even though I used to only enjoy in-person offerings. My most recent one was titled, “Covid-19: Where We’ve Been and Where We are Going.” One objective was to identify three things that have been impacted in our lives during the pandemic. Nearly nine out of ten adults in the US say their life has changed to some degree as a result of Covid-19. There have been so many changes that have challenged us. For many of us, it has been a struggle financially, personally, physically, mentally and psychologically. We hadn’t heard the term “social distancing” before March 2020 and now it is a household word. As a nurse, I have worn many face masks in my career, but not like we do now. We are all tired, emotionally spent, and ready to move on. Many of us have dealt with job loss, illness and losing loved ones. Winter has worn us down, but as the thaw has begun, at least for now, we look forward to spring. I remember last year how much the sunlight and warmer temperatures made it all so much better.
The course I took also talked about what we don’t often realize, the silver linings that can be found, if we look. Many of us have embraced technology like never before. I had not heard of Zoom before last March. When my husband suggested I do a retreat via Zoom, I balked. How could it be a retreat when in my mind, you have to go away to retreat. I have now led three Zoom retreats that proved me wrong. The evaluations encourage me to continue on that path until we are once again safe to share space together. The Finding Purpose retreats have provided community for groups of like-minded women. Another silver lining is realizing how much we value our relationships. We miss family and friends, happy hours, picnics, special dinners, birthdays, holidays. Car parades are how we celebrate birthdays and showers right now. Technology has aided us in “seeing” our family and friends until we are able to be together in person again . It will be something to truly celebrate. Many people have been able to work from home. Traffic has decreased, car emissions have decreased, there is more time for sleeping in just a little longer instead of spending time in rush hours. A new model of consumerism is coming of age. As consumers, many of us have been more selective in what we buy, where it comes from, and what is really needed. Many of us have had time to write letters to friends, pick up the phone to talk, take walks to savor nature. Not so much rushing around, being “busy",” not having time to do what gives us joy. I know not everyone has found more free time or been fortunate enough to save, but hopefully, you have found at least one silver lining.
Change is the one thing that is constant in our lives. There was a time in my life that I thought, “if only_____,” then things would be perfect. There is no perfect. A wise woman once told me to be happy with “good enough.” We are on a journey that has new vistas daily. Take a moment to reflect on what you have found beneficial as a result of the pandemic and allow those things to keep you stretching forward.
Lake Erie
Changes happen everywhere. The lake is frozen today, but soon will thaw, and the shoreline will be forever changed. Each day brings silver linings, we just have to look for them.