May 15, 2020
Let’s be clear that I do not appreciate the virus itself, nor the havoc and loss that it has caused for the world. However, working in primary health care admin has given me a unique perspective on this pandemic, so I thought I would write them down I don’t forget. The first 10 things relate to the virus’s impact on my personal life and the last 10 are from the work/global impact side.
- Sleep. I am currently waking with or just after the sunrise by choice, not because my 5am alarm is calling me into the gym for work. Which I love, but this time has really increased the quality of my sleep.
- Cooking dinner. I have become accustomed to the meal prep way of life. Leaving the house at 6am and returning around 7 or 8, sliding random leftovers into a bowl and being ok with it. However, cooking dinner has been healing, purposeful and creative over the past 12 weeks and I’m thinking about adjusting my schedule so I can keep doing it.
- Reading books in one sitting. I’ve always read voraciously, but rarely allowed myself to sink into a book for more than 20 minutes before bed. Now, on a Saturday afternoon-I’m ok with going to the park and finishing a whole memoir in one go. It’s luxurious and something that I’m going to continue to do.
- Playing cards with my family. Every week, for the past 6 weeks, we have connected via facetime to play a Euchre game-all six of us. This has never happened and I look forward to it every week. They all live in Ontario and these weekly 2 hour games have been one of the greatest gifts.
- Walks on backyard trails. I live in a suburb that has so many trails running through it. Being able to pop out in the morning or at lunch for 20 minutes or 2 hours, just to explore and listen to a podcast has been incredibly soothing.
- Hugs throughout the day. I am an extrovert and thrive on touch, so being without my usual 6-15 people interactions throughout the day has been a shock to the system. However, my partner working at home has been a great way to keep the levity and sanity through the days.
- Thinking time. I’ve had more ideas and been motivated to finish tasks that I have been pushing off for “some time” aka 3 years.
- Fitness routine (or lack thereof). I’ve enrolled myself in some kind of fitness challenge for 8/11 weeks that the gym has been closed. I still coach 3-4 times per week virtually and am so grateful that I took the time to learn how to move my body outside of the gym over the past three years.
- Friendships are stronger than they look. I am the planner, the trip organizer. My biggest fear about not seeing my friends regularly? That our friendship would be less. That shite was a lie, made up by myself. I connect with friends more on the phone while we are both walking, I feel content with virtual workouts and know that those bonds will not be broken by a bit of time apart.
- How much simpler I can live. I realized that I need less, so much less to be happy. A few key people, my family, food and shelter with access to trees and water. Saving money and learning how to just “be”, thanks for that one isolation.
- Healthcare can get rid of red tape in a crisis.
- The economy is going to be an interesting place to learn and study for the next few years.
- Family physicians deserve more credit than they get. They stepped up to serve the most vulnerable populations at a time when many others could not.
- Long hours feel like nothing, when you are in it together.
- Consciously purchasing from local shops has been a joy.
- Innovators and creators are coming up with systems that we should have had a long time ago.
- Quality Improvement projects are going to be the joy and bane of my existence as this winds down.
- Motivation to do good work doesn’t come from going to an office every day.
- The air is clearer and more people say hello on the street.
- Animals are coming back outside, they are beginning to feel at home, in their home.