I was sitting here this morning going through my last post and checking out the likes. As I sat there, I saw another post by someone quite some time ago that lent my brain to the thought of “how much we have changed.” I realized that this pandemic will have repercussions that will last nearly indefinitely in many cases. I ask for your comments afterward just to confirm my suspicions.
First, I know that our Internet will be changed forever. I see the slumps in time when many many people are more active. Work is now being done from home, a lot. That increases the load on all the carriers and slows us down as individuals. This will, hopefully, lead to more tolerance as people “get used to” an already slow system. Also, the vast variety that was already inherent in the Net has increased. So many people have found so many different ways to get things done from home online and to express themselves more and with more variety in what they do. We have also kept our friends on hand more through online services and methods. No longer able always to just jump in our cars and drive to a friend’s house, we connect even more as we have done in the years past – online. Facebook explodes with new knowledge; Youtube is constantly expanding with both commercial content (movies, etc…) and our personal films to show how we feel and what we are doing.
My biggest surprise during all of this has been that blog posting has dropped. By myself, yes, but also I read about 1-2 posts a week now and it used to be 7-10+ a day before. I have speculated on the why this is so, but really, don’t know as it’s not like we don’t have time to write. I ask myself why I haven’t written a book or many stories in these last 5+ months and I find that I am not as interested in writing now…could this be it all around? I do miss my other Internet friends. It feels as if I have been cut off from 1/2 my life.
Then there is cooking and groceries. Mom and I used to go out 1 time or more to Cracker barrel a week. That is down to zero right now. Being 62 and Mom almost 86, neither of us has any business joining in on the reopening of restaurants and businesses. I grocery shop once a week for both of us and I spend more time concerned about getting sick and not being able to take care of Mom than I do on my shopping. Plus so much buying now for home meals has changed the way I eat. I went through a horrible last two months trying to settle in and keep my sugar down. Some drastic steps that will become habit and I am, finally, pleased to say my sugar is now normal and I feel better.
Sleep has changed. I enjoy my quiet nights on the computer, so my day is up around 1:00p and bed around 2:00a, reading for about 1/2 hour. My sleep has been drastically affected lately and I am, just now, getting it back somewhat under control.
Work has changed even more than just doing it online. People are, finally, getting able and becoming comfortable with casual clothing during the day. I never liked having to wear ties and dress pants every day. I understand the reasons, but I like this new trend. Hopefully, it will become more and more available to those going back to work. I know that many are simply finding they can do more and more from home and, in the long run, this may well save money for employers. I have my counseling sessions more often now and don’t mind as I get them from home.
The environment is changing. Our air is getting cleaner. There are still those who complain about not driving everywhere, but I have heard there are places in China where people can see mountains from their city homes for the first time in decades. How cool is that!? If those places are getting better, won’t we all benefit in the years to come, especially if some of these changes stick?
From an entertainment point of view, I watch many more movies, shows, and shorts than I used to (I know hard to believe!). I am retired and handicapped, but I still have fewer things to do each day or week, allowing me more personal time at home. I am catching up on so much of the videos and shows that I had fallen behind on. And, I read more! Each night and most days I read for 1-2 hours. This feels great as I had lost that in the shuffle of life.
I do play video games, though I find that to be somewhat less than it was. That would seem strange to me, but I have begun to dabble back into game programming (mods and such) and reading a lot of scientific and how-to videos and writings than before.
Life has slowed down for me. I take my time (something I have always hoped to do) and look at the world a bit more. There is no big reason to hurry anymore (what are you hurrying for?) I get things done in my own time.
Money is changing a bit, too. I am a firm believer in the Law of Attraction (join my Facebook group: at LofA ) and believe that this situation has done my income some help. I don’t spend much on gas anymore. In fact, my auto insurance has dropped about $12 a month because of this. I don’t spend as much going out, eat better now, and don’t buy things without thinking about it. Online buying has helped that.
I am very certain that you can think of more ways that this pandemic situation has changed our lives. Not all are for the better, of course, and I hope and pray for each and every one of you and your families. Stay well and stay healthy and stay positive. Let me know what’s going on with you…
Namaste,
Scott
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