I was reading something recently about those who have found themselves faced with depression during this pandemic. I can see that... especially if you're alone and have little communication with others.
Even though I have (luckily?) never experienced this, I have felt days when I really miss the people and activities that were part of our pre-pandemic life. And it's not that we were that active - or social. But we did go out to eat with our kids and grandkids, they did come over and visit, take walks, have coffee, etc. And I enjoyed my days at the pottery studio or meeting friends for coffee and/or lunch. DH and I also got our exercise year round by walking the top and bottom floors of the malls. We don't do any of this anymore.
More than mentally, I find this not good physically. We do walk the neighborhood if the weather is good... (which it isn't very much lately) And I do some exercising for my back at home... but not enough to make up for those long walks in the mall. And although I don't think we eat any differently (maybe snack a bit more), I know that I've put on about 5 pounds that I attribute to lack of enough exercise.
Then I think about all those people sick and dying with Covid and realize how lucky we are that we've gone this long without yet contracting it. How trivial the things we've missed are in the great scheme of things. And now that the vaccine is here, there is even more light at the end of the tunnel...
I don't know when we will get the vaccine, but it's there and I'm sure we will get it eventually. I'm not complaining that distribution is complex or about long lines. I truly feel that they are doing their best to get it out there for everyone. We will continue to mask, wash hands, stay home, and avoid crowds for a while yet, so things are not going to change that fast even after the vaccine.
And I do thank the wonders of technology that we have email, text, Skype, and Zoom (and blogging!)... ways to communicate with friends and love ones that isn't physical. We live in a strange, wonderful, scary world these days, but if we look hard enough, we can still find the joy that's hidden beneath it all.
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This isn't what I planned to post about today. Sometimes my fingers take on a mind of their own and words spill out that I never intended.
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I was going to post about my playing around with watercolor.
I'm trying to determine what works best...
water-coloring the paper before sketching
or
sketching and then water-coloring over or around it.
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| example of watercoloring first, then sketching over... |
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| example of sketching first and then watercoloring... |
Neither of these are finished products. I'm still working on both... needing to add more seagulls to the first and more watercolor to the second. Actually I'm totally out of white, so will have to order more before I can continue.
If any of you out there are good with watercolor, I'd appreciate any suggestions. I'm definitely an amateur and know it, but enjoy playing around with it just the same.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! It is TGIG... and although one day just runs into the other these days, I still love weekends!?
Take care, stay safe, find joy in your day... and as my little Cheeky Chickens remind me every day "Be Happy!"
Hugs, (virtual)
Rian
Yes, we certainly are living in uncertain times, I worry about our children and grandchildren will life ever return to "normal".
ReplyDeleteJust grateful we are continuing to stay healthy, a little more portly, but still plodding along daily.
Love your watercolor creation, you are a talented lady.
Hugs,
Jo
Jo, I too worry about how this is affecting our kids and grandkids... didn't at first, but as it goes on and on, yes... I do worry. Thanks for the watercolor comment... don't believe I'm talented, but do enjoy playing around with it.
DeleteI live alone, with just Derry for company, and every day I'm thankful I have him, he keeps me semi-sane. It's VERY hard to work from home and now be in another lockdown and not be able to interact face-to-face with co-workers and friends, even coffee shop baristas, etc. I've had many dark days, or parts of days, but try to keep in mind that living through a pandemic is better than dying in one.
ReplyDeleteSo I do notice a toll on my mental health, and absolutely my physical health too. I've been doing cardio/strength video workouts for women 50+ since early June (or maybe the latter part of May), and those have been great, but I do miss the walking. It sounds silly, but I didn't realize how much I walked during the course of a work day at the office. My cubicle is some distance from the printer and I was always up and down, or going to the kitchen, or going across the street to the Starbucks on campus. I moved SO much more and my body feels that lack.
Anyway, I love seeing all your creative endeavours. You never cease to impress! :-)
I understand. My cousin in New Orleans lives alone... and she constantly tells me how Kuchi (her cat) helps her get through her days during this pandemic. Having another living thing to care for... and that cares for you in return is such a comfort.
DeleteAnd yes, walking is important... and I feel that many of us are missing out there. And I too miss Starbucks!
You know as bad as it has been isolating, I don't even want to think about what it would have been like without electronics. It has been a sanity saver.
ReplyDeleteSo admire your having art to keep you entertained. I know nothing about painting but I enjoy your work.
Patti, I'm afraid that if our Internet is ever taken away, we will all be in sorry shape.
DeleteYou will excuse me if I disagree with you: you are very talented, drawing, writing, making wonderful clay animals, etc. I too am missing some activities, but I am thankful for my thrice-weekly Zoom yoga classes. In fact, it's time for me to set up for one! :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan, I think I might have to check into some online yoga classes... surely there must be some around. And I know you are missing some of your activities, but even so, you get out there and walk in all kinds of weather. You amaze me.
DeleteThere are days that I think that I am getting accustomed to my hermit life and I am OK. I have always been a social person and looked for things to plan and to look forward. I feared the holidays but, together with my family, we found ways to be in contact with even more people and although we couldn’t be physically together, those days were lovely and memorable. We learned even more how much we mean to each other. Now I have a grandchild with Covid. These are very hard and worrisome days.
ReplyDeleteThese are worrisome times. I will pray for your grandchild with Covid. So far, the few people I know that have come down with Covid have recovered. So there is hope...
DeleteWe need to be past this; it's gone on too long.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Joanne... and sometimes it means telling myself each morning that we will get past this... by taking it day by day and finding joy in the little things.
DeleteRian, you're right that we have to appreciate the good things... to be honest, I've been surprised how rough this quarantine has been on so many as I'm pretty used to living this way already. I used to worry I enjoyed my own company a little too much, now I'm fine with it. (But I do appreciate having online blogging friends like yourself.) BTW, I keep meaning to tell you, I've looked at your other blogs, I like your Cheeky Chickens!
ReplyDeleteThis quarantine has been a learning experience. I've learned that even though I've always valued my alone time, I do miss being around my kids and grandkids, the luxury of going out to dinner once in a while, or just having coffee with my friends (all little things, but more important to us than we ever realized).
DeleteAnd thanks, Dug, for checking out my Cheeky Chickens. For whatever reason, those little guys seem to bring myself and other people joy... (something we all need these days).
i am feeling a little of this too, i have to talk myself into joyfulness! good that you are staying busy, doing art and writing truthfully about your feelings. when i was in the hospital, i saw it first hand, it's not pretty. the nurses are understaffed and overworked and people are dying all around. thinking about it, seeing...is a very good reminder of what is important and what we need to do!!
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Debbie. We do have to talk ourselves into finding joy each day. I sometimes think 'what can I do today that will make someone smile'? It can be a small thing... like baking a chocolate pie or texting a friend. At our age, we have friends who live alone - contacting them is always a good thing. I received a text yesterday that made me smile. It was from someone I considered an associate, someone I didn't think thought of me as a friend. But her text said otherwise (in so many words) and it did make me smile...
Deleteso nice...i will remember this!!
DeleteI feel much as you do. I consider myself lucky to be able to stay home - being retired is grand. Though I do miss getting together with people occasionally, having the access to the internet, text, and FaceTime has been a godsend. Since it's cold here, I've taken up walking in the house and manage to get good number of steps every day. In fact, I've actually lost weight since the beginning of the pandemic....not entirely sure how that happened.
ReplyDeleteI can't help you with the watercolor, except to say I think it's lovely! Take care, stay well.
Lost weight during the pandemic? Wow! I started walking some in the house a while back... didn't feel like it was doing enough and stopped. Will start again, thanks for the motivation!
DeleteI walk the house also, Rian and try to add to more steps every day. The weather is so much better inside and, if need be, I can sit down when my legs start hurting. I haven’t lost any weight because my path goes through the kitchen.
DeleteMy mood depends upon which side of the bed I got out of in the morning. Some days I focus on the isolation, the restrictions, the loneliness, the people who are suffering even more, and all the delays in rolling out the vaccine ... they knew it was coming, why didn't they prepare!?! Other days I'm grateful for the electronics, my volunteer opportunities, the time for some creativity, my good luck in not getting Covid ... and the miracle of the vaccine which will save us in the end!
ReplyDeleteTom, I really wonder if we're ever prepared. You'd think we would be... but it seems we never are. Think about it? Just 2 fairly recent examples: Katrina and the pandemic... both were predicted to happen. Were we prepared? No. And of course there are other examples. Even this vaccine distribution... not prepared. If we survive this, the next big 'hoax' that we will probably face is Climate Change. Will we be prepared? I doubt it. But miracles do happen.
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