Connect

Today I find myself sprawled on my living room floor, iPad open, staring out my patio door contemplating the meaning of together and struggling to articulate my thoughts. Now that I have the stage set for you, I’ll get on with it.

Now more than ever we need to come together as a community. Which seems oxymoronic, since all news and headlines across the world are begging people to stay away, self isolate, practice social distancing. However, we cannot equate physical distance or barriers to whether we are together or not. We can’t, otherwise we are alone when we need each other the most.

Coming together as a community does not require us to be in the same room or province or country. It simply requires us to connect, and thankfully we have technology today to allow just that, even during this pandemic that is trying to tear us apart. As much as I prefer to minimize screen time, what I do with my time in front of a screen changes the dynamic.

I struggle to write something that portrays the importance of our engagement in our training. Expanding this, I’m trying to portray the importance of our engagement in our communities, through our training and through other avenues.

Today I FaceTimed with my mom. Sydney almost cried, seeing her but unable to reach her. Despite the distance I felt close to my mom and moved by my daughter. The emotions were real. The experience was real.

Take advantage of everything this place has to offer. Every time someone doesn’t engage, misses a class or leaves the school, each time it is a connection lost. And we all need more connection, not less.

Honey Delivery

Well, this is a new feeling, isn’t it? With Nick home this last week and no classes every day has felt like Sunday. He’s returning to work tomorrow and I’m feeling a lot of anxiety. Chances are he’ll be back home at the end of the week as most of their jobs are shut down but in the meantime...

Regardless, I am looking to make the most of the situation. Yesterday I made a house call to one of my neighbours, delivering honey and offering my grocery delivery services. I just returned from the doorstep of another neighbour with the same offer; this particular neighbour is already of poor health and I’ve been doing what I can for him for years. He’s a bachelor living alone with severe health problems. Myself, being able bodied, I feel that I need to take responsibility for him. Just the look of relief on his face when I offered made me smile. We can choose to pull together or tear each other apart. I choose the former.

Plateau

I’ve been trying to jot down blog topics as they occur to me, however it seems that when I get back to them and want to write something the moment is gone and the topics, although I remember them, have lost their clarity for me. So several failed attempts there.

I’m in a rut with most of my requirements. I feel like I’ve hit a plateau regarding my personal ones specifically. I’ve made several substantial changes while striving for zero waste; a few examples being changing where and how I shop, using unpackaged soaps and shampoos, and using a safety razor (not for the faint of heart). Biggest by far is adopting the minimalistic lifestyle. Although I am miles away from my ideal, I can proudly say my wardrobe has been reduced to an approximately three foot section in our closet. I’ve let go of over half of my kitchen ware. I even carved down my stockpile of blankets (now you know, I have a thing for blankets).

Despite this, progress feels like its ground to a halt. I struggle to convey my desire to my husband and family, and although they are all supportive, if you don’t understand you won’t think twice about purchases and the like.

On a good note, Nick has been selling some of his tools on Kijiji. I never thought he’d part with anything, but he said my purging rubbed off on him. So yay. At least I know I made an impression on one person.

Regardless, I look around my home and still see a mass of plastic. I look in my pantry and see packages next to glass jars. I look at my recycle bins, full and overflowing. I look at my garbage- never empty.

I have to say, this society does not make doing the right thing easy. If you say “no straw please” you get odd looks. Try to buy a cucumber without packaging. Try to convince others that less is more and empty space in your home is what you desire.