First thing I want to do when the pandemic is over is…I am so tired I don’t know what I want to do. I have been reading about mindfulness and how we need to find acceptance and peace in our lives no matter where we find ourselves. It is a big challenge to feel at peace these days. I do think I am lucky that I am an introvert and my kids are adults. I don’t have to work and have a lot of exposure to the public. But I am in my older years and did not plan to spend my time on house arrest. I thought I was ok with waiting for the vaccine, then the news my husband and I would be eligible for it now but it is not available in our county. This made me angry because people in other counties are able to get it. Have to try to be patient but it’s hard. I’m in the middle of packing up my house for a move to the desert. I still have things to look forward to. I always considered myself an optimist. Have to find what brings me joy again. Last thing I want to do is lose my ‘joie de vivre.’
After I started this post, I spotted an article in the New York Times, that asked several people ‘what is the first thing you will do when the pandemic ends?’
What is the first thing you want to do when the pandemic is over?
Stream of Consciousness Saturday, #SOCS, is hosted by Linda G Hill. The prompt for today is ‘first thing’, start you post with ‘first thing,’ bonus points for ending post with ‘last thing.’
Featured image by S. Hermann and F. Richter on Pixabay.com
Notes Tied On The Sagebrush 
These are strange times indeed Deborah. I also cannot think or feel forward into the future, but that is just how it is. All expectations are blown out the window, but that’s the trouble with ‘expectations’ – they discombobulate us when not met. Best not to have them I suppose and to stay with the moment and allow some day dreaming and joie de vivre ..
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Part of what I have read about mindfulness is that we need to have compassion for ourselves as well. We are going through a lot of stresses and upset and we react to them. For me there is anger, sadness, and just being tired from it. I think it is good for me, us, to have compassion for where I am at and know I will recover. Also to know that there are many of us who are going through the same thing. Thank you, Susan.
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Leading a group walk in our mountains (I live in the mountains and, under normal circumstances, lead walks). I hope yo will get your vaccine soon, Deborah. xxx
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I hope you will be leading walks again very soon! Thank you, Anna. xoxo
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I want so many small things, Deborah. I want to visit museums, I want to drive to a city in a nearby state without worry and without having to fill out forms. I hope we get to do these things soon.
Take care.
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The waiting is hard. I hope you will be free to do all these things soon and this time will be just a memory. Thank you, Dan.
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The first thing I will do when the pandemic is over is start hugging people. I miss that so very much. Since I retired in September, I feel a little isolated, but the saving grace is that I have a roommate that I can talk to without a mask. I will probably have to wait until early summer before a vaccine is available to me, but it is worth the wait. Hanging on a little longer…
Good luck with your move and I hope you are able to get the vaccine sooner rather than later.
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I am glad you have a roommate. Let the time come soon when you will catch up on all the hugs. That is a happy thought and sending a virtual hug to you. Our new President has said that he wants to increase the availability of the vaccine and I hope it will be available to everyone a lot sooner! Thank you, Mary.
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I tend towards introvert too so I’m not anxious to get “out there” so to speak. I just miss the easiness. Like taking my dog to the vet & being allowed in with her instead of waiting in a too hot/cold car. In pre-covid days there was the option of grabbing a coffee & blogging for that hour.
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Definitely miss the easiness. I avoid doing many things that involve going into a building and when I feel like I must it is anxiety provoking. Thank you, Laura.
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I’d like to take a vacation out of state. We put off doing that thinking there’d be more time later. But guess what? There’s no time like the now. Or then, pre-Covid. We should have taken the time off and gone for it.
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Yes, feel like we missed out on a lot of trips. I thought of going to Europe, never been there, and now may never go. Wish we had done it a long time ago. Thank you, Jill.
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I’m mostly an introvert, too. But I miss singing in church and visiting my son’s family in the mountains. I hope the move to the desert will bring new opportunities and peace.
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Let this pandemic get under control with enough vaccines for all of us ASAP. Thank you, JoAnna ❤
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I second hugging. There are many people I wish to see and squish.
I hope y’all get to start your vaccines soon. My boss is in his 70s and had his second shot last week.
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I am hesitant to hug my kids and daughter-in-law even though my husband and I have been pretty much very careful and not going out hardly at all. I do not go into stores at all. My husband gets a bit rebellious, I think, and has gone into a few grocery stores and hardware stores, (wearing a mask), but infrequently. I gave my son and daughter-in-law a side hug. I did hug my daughter a couple of times. Pretty hard not to hug your own kids. I am very careful with my grandson. Usually don’t hug him too close to protect him. We did get our first dose and now hope we will be able to get the second one in a couple of weeks. Just hope these crazy virus mutations don’t mess it all up. This whole experience is unreal. Hope you and yours stay safe and healthy.
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I am fortunate enough to hug my immediate family daily, but what I wouldn’t give to hug my mother, my sil, my mil, my friends ❤ We are deprived of hugs when we most need them.
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That’s hard, not to be able to hug your loved ones, your mother. My daughter and son do not live with us. My daughter does not want to visit any more right now because of risk to us. I worry about her traveling to visit us because she does not live nearby. It will be wonderful when this is over.
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