What is it about a 12+ month sequester that made us think about wasted time? Were we "caught in the drift", doing things pre-COVID that seemed important and now not so much? Should we be thanking the pandemic for delivering a silver lining? What other changes in our lives contributed to a post-COVID routine?
I suspect the answer to Julie’s questions will be varied. For me the pandemic lined up with my retirement from a “day” job. I went from CEO of a good sized not for profit company to zero. Any thoughts of a trailing career doing part time consulting vanished like a morning fog burning off in the rising sun.
Other factors came into play. Our political climate changed, dramatically. We got another year older.
Richard and Julie had “significant” birthdays. They will always make you think. Even though I am a bit younger (Richard says he has Topsiders older than me); age and time left are not an insignificant component of my thinking.
So for me:
I have no time for Trumpers. They may have been friends before, but I am not going to invest in people out of touch with reality.
I have more time for family. A grandchild is a great joy and we have a second on the way!
I am writing. I am nowhere near as seasoned and experienced as Julie and Richard. Still, I enjoy it. I have written and had published a half a dozen feature articles in a Chesapeake Bay area boating magazine. There are more in the works. I have had a few op ed pieces included in the editorial pages of the hometown newspaper, keeping my toe in my industry.
I continue to serve on boards (eight at this count). I am coaching a group of young real estate developers. So, maybe more than my toe is still in my affordable housing and development world.
I have more time for projects. A playhouse for the grandkids in in the works. A kitchen rehab here, a boat project there, the opportunities are nearly endless. I hope they stay that way.
Lots of reflection time....having gone from the death of my husband in July 2019, the aftermath of all that entailed, a very rejuvenating two week Mexican vacation with my daughter and her family over that Christmas/New Years holiday, then the short two months when I was starting to feel normal again and Covid hit. It extended the grieving process but the isolation has also helped it in so many ways. Dana's summary is such a good one! I do know I will get to see my sister and Richard sometime SOON!
l♥️ this and agree. Before the pandemic, I ate out with friends 3-4 times a week! I loved to be social. My husband and I also spent inordinate amounts of time on the weekends running in and out of malls and stores. I don’t want to do that anymore — spend so much time shopping. Because I work remotely now, I’m not really into clothes, jewelry, and shoes and purses like I was. So much excess. I don’t plan to return to that. I don’t feel like there is much I need anymore, other than the necessities. I find myself wanting to share our wealth of things with others, rather than amass more things. What I enjoy most now is being at home with my husband or going to the Pappajohn Sculpture Park (where we are now). Watching the flowers and trees bloom, feeling the wind, reflecting on our blessings.
What is it about a 12+ month sequester that made us think about wasted time? Were we "caught in the drift", doing things pre-COVID that seemed important and now not so much? Should we be thanking the pandemic for delivering a silver lining? What other changes in our lives contributed to a post-COVID routine?
I suspect the answer to Julie’s questions will be varied. For me the pandemic lined up with my retirement from a “day” job. I went from CEO of a good sized not for profit company to zero. Any thoughts of a trailing career doing part time consulting vanished like a morning fog burning off in the rising sun.
Other factors came into play. Our political climate changed, dramatically. We got another year older.
Richard and Julie had “significant” birthdays. They will always make you think. Even though I am a bit younger (Richard says he has Topsiders older than me); age and time left are not an insignificant component of my thinking.
So for me:
I have no time for Trumpers. They may have been friends before, but I am not going to invest in people out of touch with reality.
I have more time for family. A grandchild is a great joy and we have a second on the way!
I am writing. I am nowhere near as seasoned and experienced as Julie and Richard. Still, I enjoy it. I have written and had published a half a dozen feature articles in a Chesapeake Bay area boating magazine. There are more in the works. I have had a few op ed pieces included in the editorial pages of the hometown newspaper, keeping my toe in my industry.
I continue to serve on boards (eight at this count). I am coaching a group of young real estate developers. So, maybe more than my toe is still in my affordable housing and development world.
I have more time for projects. A playhouse for the grandkids in in the works. A kitchen rehab here, a boat project there, the opportunities are nearly endless. I hope they stay that way.
Lots of reflection time....having gone from the death of my husband in July 2019, the aftermath of all that entailed, a very rejuvenating two week Mexican vacation with my daughter and her family over that Christmas/New Years holiday, then the short two months when I was starting to feel normal again and Covid hit. It extended the grieving process but the isolation has also helped it in so many ways. Dana's summary is such a good one! I do know I will get to see my sister and Richard sometime SOON!
I liked my life before and want it back. Miss church, social gatherings, my family and going out to eat.
l♥️ this and agree. Before the pandemic, I ate out with friends 3-4 times a week! I loved to be social. My husband and I also spent inordinate amounts of time on the weekends running in and out of malls and stores. I don’t want to do that anymore — spend so much time shopping. Because I work remotely now, I’m not really into clothes, jewelry, and shoes and purses like I was. So much excess. I don’t plan to return to that. I don’t feel like there is much I need anymore, other than the necessities. I find myself wanting to share our wealth of things with others, rather than amass more things. What I enjoy most now is being at home with my husband or going to the Pappajohn Sculpture Park (where we are now). Watching the flowers and trees bloom, feeling the wind, reflecting on our blessings.