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I can’t stop thinking about all the individual stories in all the houses around the world that are affected by isolation. I don’t know what decision it was that set my wife and I up to experience peace in isolation.
We had a tumultuous couple of years with disappointment and grief. Then, we were asked to isolate together for three months and we fell into a rhythm made possible by kindness, love and patience. The dogs loved our constant attention. We took them on more walks than ever before. They rested at our feet as we got used to working from home.
Our home became our workspace and suddenly there was no delineation between home and work. Like obedient monkeys we sat down at the computer and started up our video calls from 9am-5pm. Sometimes, I would get irritable for no reason. My wife would say, ‘you know there is a worldwide pandemic happening? You’re doing a great job coping with all the changes. Be irritable and exhausted and tired. You don’t always have to smile. If you’re not feeling brave, I’ll be here.’ Then she would make me a cup of tea.
Turns out we laugh more than before. We aren’t so busy and wrapped up in what should be happening. Instead, we take what is happening right now and do our best with it.
I feel guilty and second guess how we can find such solace in solitude and then a friend will call or drop round. They smile at me and I realise I've paused a side of myself that needs the streets in our town to be filled with people so we can hug and share a story. This will pass but the memory of it may always remind me that slowing down is precious.
We had a tumultuous couple of years with disappointment and grief. Then, we were asked to isolate together for three months and we fell into a rhythm made possible by kindness, love and patience. The dogs loved our constant attention. We took them on more walks than ever before. They rested at our feet as we got used to working from home.
Our home became our workspace and suddenly there was no delineation between home and work. Like obedient monkeys we sat down at the computer and started up our video calls from 9am-5pm. Sometimes, I would get irritable for no reason. My wife would say, ‘you know there is a worldwide pandemic happening? You’re doing a great job coping with all the changes. Be irritable and exhausted and tired. You don’t always have to smile. If you’re not feeling brave, I’ll be here.’ Then she would make me a cup of tea.
Turns out we laugh more than before. We aren’t so busy and wrapped up in what should be happening. Instead, we take what is happening right now and do our best with it.
I feel guilty and second guess how we can find such solace in solitude and then a friend will call or drop round. They smile at me and I realise I've paused a side of myself that needs the streets in our town to be filled with people so we can hug and share a story. This will pass but the memory of it may always remind me that slowing down is precious.