5 things

5 Things I learned During the Pandemic

Pandemic is defined as (of a disease) prevalent over a whole country or the world. I promise you I never EVER thought I would be living in such times. A virus that is prevalent throughout the world is something you read about in history not the damn news! Even though I don’t normally have visitors, having to NOT allow anyone in my place is strange to me.

This Pandemic has had me personally on lockdown since March 10th. I manage a sales team and that is the date we stopped visiting properties. A few weeks later my daughter started working from home too. (thank God) With all of this time alone I have learned a few things about me and I am going to share them with you.

5 Pandemic lessons learned

The first thing I learned is it takes three days before I start to stink. NOTE: Shelbey is appalled that I am sharing this, so for clarification I wash regularly but I just discovered that I don’t have to.

via GIPHY

Ok wait, let me explain! Stop laughing or gagging, depending on how that made you feel. My BFF and I had a thing, if we didn’t leave the house, especially on the weekend, we didn’t wash. I mean who would smell us anyway?

Since I haven’t had to leave the house, I found it has taken a full three days before I offend myself. How long does it take it you to stink? Do you know? *devilish grin* UPDATE: I called my BFF and she had my back!!

pandemic

Lesson number 2 is more serious, I promise. I learned there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. I am an only child, therefore, most of my favorite things I can do alone. Many folks have said they missed being around people and I miss that too, but I am also very comfortable hanging with me.

The third lesson I learned during this worldwide lock down is….I spend waaaay too much time on TicTok. I secretly want to learn one of those dances. Shh don’t tell Shelbey because she forbid me to do any of that. She knows I can dance though, so I also learned she is a hater. I love her though. hahahahahaha

Last Two Lessons Learned

Lesson number 4 includes my Shelbey too. I learned I still love a good book. I use to read all the time and just stopped. My book shelves are overflowing with books, but I haven’t purchased a book in forever. When Shelbey started her book club, of course I was proud, but I didn’t plan to read along. LOL She quickly changed that with one single question. “Mommy did you get your book yet?” so yea..I still really enjoy reading..or in this case listening.

The final lesson refers to my sleeping habits. I just can’t sleep through the night. I don’t know if it’s just the heaviness of the times that has me restless or what. Sleep is definitely not my friend and I am not sure why.

What have you learned during this pandemic?

58 thoughts on “5 Things I learned During the Pandemic”

  1. Jacqueline Code

    Lesson 1: I’m a natural homebody and can go days seeing only my family.
    Lesson 2: I don’t need a whole wardrobe of work clothes and really love choosing what makes me comfortable without worrying about how it looks to others.
    Lesson 3: I’m a rule follower. I find it really hard to have to do the constant risk assessment for myself and my sons when they want to do something out in the world.
    Lesson 4: I’d be insane without my fibre hobbies and crafts. I knew that at some level already but now I really know it.
    Lesson 5: I don’t need to spend money other than on essentials (yarn and fibre included) which has freed up a lot to save for retirement and my kids’ future and to give back to causes for those less fortunate. It’s amazing how much of my disposable income was going to things like coffee and restaurant meals and clothes etc when I was going into an office every day. Not to mention travelling. And I don’t miss it one bit.

  2. Jessica Anderson

    I’ve learned I like being around people more than I thought I did. I’ve always been a homebody, but not being able to go to fiber festivals, my knitting group or meet my sisters for a meal has been hard. I don’t think I will ever be able to work from home, I procrastinate too much! Like you I’ve rediscovered my love of reading. I’ve been a nurse for over 20 years, when I first heard about Covid 19, I never imagined it would turn out the way it has, I thought we’ve been through SARS, H1N1, Ebola, etc. But nothing has been like this.

  3. Hi GG! I have learned a lot about myself in self-isolation. I started that on March 5th. My friends thought I was nuts, but they’re all staying home now, too, and they say they’re being very cautious & wearing masks & all that, and I hope they are. I’m an introvert and I wasn’t in the habit of going out for a movie or lunch date or whatever anyway, and I am quite content being alone. In fact, I just don’t experience loneliness. In fact, I only remember feeling lonely once (I’m an only child too) and that was the first time I went to summer camp. I didn’t know anybody, everybody else was in one clique or the other and nobody liked me – nor I them; I got an earache the first night there, and I woke up with daddy longlegs bites all over my face. Boy, was I lonely, and homesick, too, but I lived through it. Anyhow – to my surprise I haven’t had any trouble with overeating, in fact I’ve lost like, 7 pounds since March 5th, without even trying. I’m eating better, too, trying out all kinds of vegetarian recipes and adding more fruit and veggies to my diet, what it adds up to is that my relationship with food has changed some. Also, the first three months I did pretty much NOTHING. No one would be coming over, so who cares what the house looks like? LOL In the past month that has turned around and I’ve been getting some long-overdue things done around the house and have spent more time cleaning. But it’s like I had to get used to that lack of social pressure to find my own comfort zone of house & yard activities. I’m still pretty lazy and I don’t expect that to change. And finally I have really become aware of how important my family and friends are to me. They have, just by existing, helped me through some very dark days of despair with what is going on in the world right now. Glad to hear you’re doing OK, hang in there! The virus nightmare will resolve somehow, though our lives may be very different for a long time. Human beings are very adaptable!

  4. #1 made me laugh. Mostly because I have learned pretty much the same thing! It takes a few days, but when I start to stink… WOOOO, it comes on strong! 😂

  5. A lot of people are having trouble with sleep. I’m right there with you.
    I’ve learned that while I love my kids and my husband, I’m definitely someone who needs time alone to recharge my batteries. We’ve been home since March too and my batteries are getting super low (and recharging more slowly, like that old phone). Related, personal space has been challenging. I feel like my kids (and pets) follow me everywhere 🤪 I go in my room to read while they’re busy doing something and not 5 minutes later, here comes one of them. I like quiet. All my boys (including my husband) are loud. #ItsAChallenge But I’ve rediscovered my love for knitting socks!

  6. Raymonda Schwartz

    I learned that I really don’t miss the few activities I was still involved with pre-lockdown. I also learned that several people who I used to admire, are willfully ignorant or hurtfully religious about this disease. I already knew I was a slob – but this has confirmed it 🙂 In my defense, I have also been dealing with a difficult, dying spouse (since mid-October) – and now it’s hurricane season……………
    Being able to connect with you, and with online others I care about, has been a lifesaver, and allows me to work on retaining my humanity.
    And my Kindle is my favorite thing ever 🙂

  7. Hello GG! I have learned that I am more of a homebody than I realized! I always thought I was an extrovert, but apparently I can switch to extroverted introvert quite easily. Also, my boys, and their rooms, smell bad fast. I am learning to finish projects (mostly) too. Thanks for posting!
    Alyssa

  8. Ahhhhh – thanks so much for the hearty laugh this morning. Things I’ve learned in the past four months – yeah, three days without a shower is my limit as well. Maybe 2.5 days.
    I learned that I really, REALLY do not care about my personal appearance when I run out for quick errands. I was getting the hard side-eye from a woman the other day – then I looked down. I had been dyeing yarn and doing some exterior painting earlier in the day, as well as lawn mowing so….dye on my hands, grass stains, paint all over the clothes (I mean can you even call yourself a DIYer if you don’t have paint on your glasses?). And I had a sweat band and floppy yardwork hat on. Did I care about her damned side-eye? not.one.bit
    I learned that I rather enjoy my alone time. I have been the happiest, safest, and wealthiest when I am on my own – if you get my drift (exes can be so draining in so many ways).
    I learned that I had no problem wearing a mask – in my side-gig profession, we wear professional respirators. So there is that. In fact, I have been known to wear my bright pink respirator into the big box hardware store. It is so much more comfortable than those little elastic earred masks.
    I learned that I really “don’t” need to hug everybody I know. Although I do miss not be able to hug my besties and close family members. And seeing them on a regular basis.
    I learned that teaching online during my last two months of a great 32-year high school science teaching career is NOT the way I wanted to end my time with my fabulous students. However, I now live six Saturdays and one Sunday every week. That, I have learned, was worth working toward since I was 11 years old, taking that first babysitting job.

    Lastly, I learned that a lot of selfish people really don’t care if I am immune-compromised. I think you know what I say to them. F**k off -rhymes with buck, chuck, stuck.

    1. hhahahahahahahaaaaa. LOL same I was walking Gunner,and the usually friendly lady was giving me the eye. I wondered the same until I looked in my camera and my hair was smashed to the side of my head.

      1. Lol yup. And now, I be added to the style. My short hair, which usually stays managed monthly by my hair stylist, is so long that I’ve restarted to big hair clips to keep it out of my eyes. Reaching for my sharp scissors….

  9. #1 made me laugh For me, there is definitely a gap between when I start to stink and when I offend myself. No, I’m not saying how long that gap is.
    I’ve been lonely for 4 years, ever since my hubby died, so it’s hard to say if I’m more lonely. I don’t mind being alone, I can do what I want, when I want and if chores don’t get done, meh, I’ll do them tomorrow, maybe.
    The money I’m not spending on gas, doggy daycare, and junk food is going toward paying down some bills and I have a happy dog who hangs with me all day.

  10. Things I’ve learned from the pandemic:

    1) I am not in charge of the whole world and everything in it. I am only in charge of me. When I obsess over *everything* happening *everywhere,* I make myself CRAZY.

    2) Getting outside makes me happy, so I try to do that for at least a little bit every day.

    3) The same goes for listening to or creating music.

    4) I see more of what I focus on. If I focus on the things I can’t do, what I miss, everything I don’t have, I’m miserable. When I choose to look at what I *do* have in my life, I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

    5) Gratitude makes everything better.

    6) I can only do today, today. Tomorrow will arrive without my worrying about what it will look like.

    7) Even adversity has gifts to bestow. I’ve spent time on Zoom and phone calls with people on my life I seldom see or talk to. I’ve discovered new hobbies. I’ve found time to learn new things. I’ve gotten to spend family time with my teenagers who would never have chosen to play games with their parents in the evenings.

    8) When I am overwhelmed by the state of the world, I can do one thing. Perhaps that one thing leads to another, but even if it doesn’t, I have improved the world a little bit.

    9) Helping people makes me feel better.

    10) There is nothing that says I have to do any of it perfectly.

  11. I haven’t been the least bit lonely either. But then I’ve had 5 of my 6 kids here with me pretty much the whole time, and I’m an introvert! I never even considered the fact that I’m an only child as well. Once again, you’ve given me something to think about!

  12. Lovely post. Thank you for sharing. Lessons learned for me:

    1. Lack of work routine has been difficult for the last 4 months. I am much more likely to procrastinate working at home than when I was at my workplace.

    2. Another introvert here, so I love spending time quietly with my knitting and sewing. However, I have missed all the craft markets where I sell my creations. Sold not a thing this year so far as I have not had the energy and motivation to reopen my Etsy store (my photo taking is crap, so I can’t make my creations look sale-able). Although I have to psyche myself up to be an extrovert to sell at fibre markets, I find I still miss not doing them.

    3. I smiled at your first point – I discovered the same thing!

    4. Sleep – menopause changed all that for me 15 years ago. Nothing has changed during lockdown. Still crappy sleeps for at least half the week. I thought perhaps I would sleep better if I didn’t have to ‘go’ to work the next morning. However, work is here at home!

      1. Mary Anne Schierman

        GG, menopause can pretty much TRASH your ability to sleep. That might be the source of your difficulty with sleep problems. Thankfully I am past that now but I remember it vividly! Hang in there and thank you for your generous sharing.

          1. Menopause did a number on my sleep but the bigger problem was anxiety – it got so much worse and I was completely taken by surprise.

  13. Things I learned in lockdown
    1 can go a whole week before I need to wash my hair but that’s more cause I’ve been going to work in a school still( live in the UK where schools have opened throughout) rather than the smell🤪🙈
    2 Also learnt there’s a difference between being lonely and being alone so have definitely felt lonely but I now know I’m never alone. ❤️
    3 I also learnt how important it is to be honest with your family or close friends about how you’re feeling so they can help you and you can help them
    Find your comment about showering funny and think you’re right three days is the right amount of time between showers before the smell is noticeable 🤪🤪😂😂🙈😘😘

  14. Lock down started for me on March 23rd, right after the NY governor ordered non-essential stores closed. I was the last person in my household to stay home. It was made harder by the fact that I knew my store was closed permanently. All AC Moore stores were to close for good by the end of March anyway, so I felt I had nothing to go back to, no light at the end of a tunnel to keep you going. To make matters worse, a week later a good friend from work died and it shocked us all. (not covid) I’m normally equally comfortable being home as I am being out, so I thought it would easier for me to handle this situation. Well I have to say if it weren’t for social media I would have completely lost it. I was already anxious about the virus itself and then I was depressed. But luckily we made a chat group of store employees and being able to talk in there, texting or calling other friends and family kept me sane. I spent hours on my phone looking at other people’s creations in my FB groups, commenting on things, but I didn’t have the mental energy to do much of my own work. However it made me feel connected to people and that was definitely worth something. (Unfortunately I discovered you can still feel lonely even with other people in the house.) My sleeping habits changed for the worst and I didn’t accomplish a lot while home, but I forced myself to go outside periodically for a little fresh air and sunshine and that helped, too. The bottom line, what I learned about myself is that I need other people to connect to, more than I thought I did. I chose that particular store to work in because I love crafting and I figured since I needed the extra money, why not work someplace I enjoy being. I discovered that I really crave being with people that share my interests. Whether online or in person I benefit from that common ground. Hopefully at some point I’ll find someplace to work again that I enjoy. In the meantime I’ll just have to rely a little more on social media to fill the void. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic and allowing us to do the same. xo

  15. What Sarah said. Sleep was already not my friend because I’m at that certain age…

    I’ve learned a lot–about materialism (don’t need all this stuff), friendship (NEED my friends), knitting (major anxiety reduction the second I pick up my needles)–but the main thing has been doing some major renegotiation in how I related to my teenage daughter: I needed to see that she was becoming a young woman now, deserving of more faith, trust and fewer attempts at CONTROL on my part. Probably would’ve happened anyway over a longer period had we not been stuck in a very small house together for months, but this time has involved major growing pains. I am proud of us: we are now in a much better place!

  16. I thought I’d miss being able to go out to restaurants and stores, but I really like the quiet and the money I’m saving. I’m also about make a serious effort to teach myself to make my own clothes, to help seal the deal.

    Also, somewhere along the line I downloaded apps to help me identify birds, so I can appreciate the lack of car traffic in more detail.

    I intended to start a vegetable garden, but my yard is the same disaster it’s always been, so the more things change, yadda yadda…

  17. Fish and company is what I think about when you reflect on your three day funk! Haha. You also have me wondering about my olfactory system because I’ve been stretching it out to a week! Yep. Started this habit when dealing with a drought and it was like do I take a bath or give life to my yard. I picked the yard….and even though I moved to the wetter PNW, it’s a new habit. It’s also a reflection of this big transition in my life from being some bad ass business and community kind of person to retiring and moving toward the thing I always really wanted to do – weave. Weaving goes well with pandemics. I’m glad I had a few years to transition and learn to enjoy my own company so much. I have a daughter too, she’s 30, and she talks to me like that too! So funny! She wants me to wear giant Jackie O glasses, I wanna wear tiny John Lennon styles….she tolerates me less and less. I’m pretty much in her discard pile right now but it’s also because her life is really working for her so I’ll take it. Oh and my sleep is so dream filled – what is that about? I am hearing others remark similar experiences? Fascinating – I find myself living in altered universes and there is some part of me that is thinking I’ve been there all along as I dream it and so when I wake up I’m like, is this a series of dreams? Haha. The quality of sleep varies. Getting out in the yard and soaking up some rays is one strangely I heard. But let me share other insights about the validity of the waking moments! First, apparently back in the day when we all slept more communally, in many cultures it was a norm to wake up half way through the night and share your dreams with those lying with or near you. Also, I’m reading Viktor Frankl still and he made a little side note about the reality that the body sleeps when I needs it. Also, I read a lot of behavioral science stuff and one study was saying our modern habits are socially constructed and what sleep and rest might look like if we were less civilized would be, well, less civilized! Varied. So I share these only because I find the worst thing about not being able to sleep is wishing I could. So I like these reframes! I like to laugh at how I can be so tired and then go to bed and be wide awake. What’s that about? Oh, and you know, the one habit I’ve added to my life since sheltering? Is showing up like this! Random acts of telling stories on social media. I studied human behavior and there is an ability to support mental health in reflecting. A journal can work too but Instagram offers connections.

  18. I have been saying the Serenity Prayer to myself more: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Helps me with my attitude when it’s going in the wrong direction.
    Hugs to you, GG.

  19. 1) I thought I would get so much knitting in but I have multiple WIPs in time out. I don’t have the focus or the energy most of the time. I seem to be spending more time on IG than knitting (which is why I am avoiding Tik-Tok or I would never knit).

    2) I have been supporting the indy-dyer economy—not really but my indy-dyed stash has been growing exponentially so I need to do something about my knitting. I have yarn in baskets everywhere.

    3) I have trouble staying asleep also. If I go to the bathroom right before bed I might get 4-5 hours before being awake for 2-3 hours. I think about what’s going on in our country and it makes me both sad and angry at the same time.

    4) I bought myself a glass patio table thinking I could work outside on nice days. It’s been too warm for my computer, but I have been able to do Zoom meetings out there and sometimes live streams or phone calls. So it’s my little sometime getaway.

    5) I’m not ready to go out in public yet. I’ve been to the grocery store 4 times since My WFH started on March 13. (My sister is an essential worker so she stops for produce weekly—and we live together with our 2 kitties.) I still am live-streaming church. I went to the dentist July 1 and realized my tag expired the day before—so I need to call and find out what the COVID protocol is for renewal before the end of this month. So now I’m calendar challenged also.

  20. I’ve learned the importance of so many things .
    1. Knowing the names of the older couple I see walking each morning. Some days we are each other’s only live in person interaction .
    2. Journaling. I journaled whenever I was younger but rediscovered it as an outlet. It’s therapeutic.
    3. Screen free time. I’m watching less tv. More books. Began picking up knitting last week in earnest after a long hiatus. Also sometimes it’s okay to turn off the news and socials.
    4. My knit friends are equally fun on Zoom. I spend more time and appreciate zooms and phone calls with friends.
    5. Super aware of where I spend my money. How can I vote with my money, supporting local businesses and ones that do for the community.

  21. Things I’ve learned during the pandemic
    – I’m ok not being around people and being by myself
    – I have way too many clothes that I never wear, time to de clutter
    – my husband is not that difficult to spend a lot of time with, that was a pleasant surprise
    – I miss my kids and grandkids!!!!
    – I have spent way less money even though I still splurge on yarn
    Great post and comments.

  22. Things I have learned during the pandemic:
    1) I can grow food in the backyard and it tastes so much better than things at the store.
    2) I like making my home a place of comfort instead of a pit stop.
    3) I don’t need all these clothes. Most are not comfortable for me, but could be for someone else.
    4) I do not need to shower daily or wash my hair as much. And, I don’t need styled hair. I actually used clippers and cut all my hair off. It was quite freeing. I am going to keep it short.
    5) One should still brush their teeth at least daily.
    6) I am glad I have been hoarding yarn all these years as I now can focus on making things.
    7) Virtual shopping is more fun than shopping in person.
    8) I like not having to go somewhere all the time.
    9) I like refried beans with an egg on top for breakfast or dinner.
    10) I like it when the only sounds I hear are birds chirping and my knitting needles are clicking.

  23. I got your back on that first one, too! Depending on how long my walks are, I can go a couple of days. 🙂 I guess I haven’t so much learned new things, as had old understandings of myself (I love time alone, I need to be outdoors to stay mentally and emotionally healthy, etc) confirmed. I, too, have been having trouble sleeping – especially falling asleep. There is a lot to come to grips with each day…

  24. This was a great post. Very thought provoking (maybe too much so! ;))

    I’ve learned that having gray hair really doesn’t bother me anymore. And my hairdresser has decided to change professions, so I don’t have to feel quite as bad about abandoning her.

    I’ve learned that some days, I can knit complex lace and some days I struggle to knit basic garter stitch. So, I go with the day….and I have a crazy number of WIPs to prove it!

    I’ve learned to be intentional with my spending. Small businesses. Local businesses. Businesses who are trying to do the right thing for their customers and employees. Charities and organizations fighting for the liberties that I forgot we had to fight for.

    I work with people from all over the world, and I’ve learned what it sounds like when people from other countries ask me how I’m doing with pity and sadness in their voices. When they say, “I’ve heard things are really bad in America.” I’m a bit of a smartarse, so I lighten things up quickly, but that tone smacks me every time I hear it.

    I’ve developed a deep appreciation for things I’d taken for granted like honesty, common decency, common sense, and the understanding that science, although it changes as we learn things, is real…to name a few. I’ve learned that I am wildly uncomfortable with my health and possible survival being dependent on the people who don’t value these things.

    My sense of gratitude has also deepened over the last 6 months. I’m immensely grateful for the people showing up everyday to do the dirty jobs that keep society’s wheels turning. For everyone willing to risk their lives and the lives of their families to help the rest of us, even when we do stupid stuff. I’ve learned that there are a lot of these people. I hope they don’t give up on us.

    I’ve learned that being an only child, an introvert, and a knitter are survival skills. Who knew?!?

    As for the shower thing, I learned that one years ago, but the part you forgot to mention is how aahhh-maaaaaaazing that shower feels on day 3!

  25. HA. #1- me too, although I already knew that with a bunch of little kids who can’t be left for a hot second without someone else’s supervision. (I do have a teen, though, and DO wash.. but MAN.) Watch out if you cook with onions and garlic a lot, though. Because yikes.

    I learned that I really like being home with my family and don’t miss most things. I did miss church, though. A lot. And I missed having coffee with a friend. I’m a solid introvert and though I hate driving I really missed the time “alone” in the car when I ran errands. Losing that was really hard with a full house.

    I also learned that I have a hard time concentrating when under chronic stress. I couldn’t pick up a book and focus, but I learned to love audiobooks because I could busy my hands with knitting while escaping in a story. <3

  26. I swear we are soul sisters!!!
    I start to get a bit ‘whiffy’ after 3 days but I can go up to 5 days before I start to think ‘Damn girl … go get in that shower!’.
    I believe the definition of an introvert is that they draw energy from within. Extroverts need to draw energy from having people around them. I enjoy being with my friends but I also enjoy just being with me. If I’ve been to busy places like at work, shopping centres (aka malls) etc, I need to shut myself in my room for a while when I get home just to regenerate.
    Before I became a ‘Knitter’ with a ‘K’, I was a ‘Reader’. I still love reading but the time spent doing this has dropped dramatically. I haven’t jumped on the audiobook wagon yet. I used to have a Kindle but I really love holding, smelling and flipping the pages of a real book. I have tried to read a bit more lately but am finding it really hard to concentrate which is something new for me. I used to be able to immerse myself in a book and totally tune the world out but now I’m finding it hard to get through a couple of pages at best. I also find that I get to a point where I stop and think ‘What did I just read …’ way more often.
    I have trouble sleeping too. I have always been a night owl but could go to sleep earlier when I needed to (eg. going to work, early appointment etc). I hit menopause at 40 (had to have ovaries removed) and since then I’ve had trouble with sleep (don’t even get me started on the hot flushes). I was told that I would have menopausal symptoms until the time my body would have reached menopause naturally (ie in my 50s). I’m turning 47 in a couple of weeks and symptoms are still going strong. I am now fully understanding the meaning & need of having ‘nanna naps’ in the afternoon!!!
    The only thing I haven’t jumped on board with is Tik Tok … yet.

  27. I’ve been on strict lockdown to this day. I’ve learned that I like my brain, and that I didn’t even know I had been missing it. The constant running around never left any time for quiet or solitude. In the past few months I got the chance to reconnect with my fun brain, and with the fun brain of my two teens. I picked up knitting during the lock down and am obsessed. I am a psychiatrist and this is better than therapy! Also, I discovered that while knitting, I look EXACTLY like your logo. No joke. I wish I had a picture to share. My natural hair is huge and so I don’t know how long it would take me to stink, because after two days of not wetting my hair it starts looking like 1975 Gloria Gaynor called and wants her signature look back.

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