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Well, here we are. It\u2019s been a month since I\u2019ve attended a meeting outside my home. A month since I\u2019ve taught in a classroom. Since I\u2019ve had lunch with a friend, gone to a movie or stood in line at the grocery store. Even for an introverted writer who loves solitude, staying home this much gets weird.<\/p>\n
Every day I bike through my neighborhood with my dog. She\u2019s well over a hundred in people years, so we don\u2019t go far. Lots of stopping and sniffing. I want her to keep her muscle strength as long as possible, so I persuade her even when she\u2019s reluctant. She gains enthusiasm as we progress and on our way home, she trots along beside me, wagging and smiling. I put her inside and go out for a longer, harder ride. Sometimes I walk a Bosque trail. Most days I visit the local park to sit under a Ramada and watch people playing with their dogs and kids.<\/p>\n
Everywhere I go, people greet me. They wave from cars and porches. We exchange anecdotes about our dogs, our shopping challenges, the weather. I know twice as many of my neighbors as before the pandemic. Maybe because more people are home. Maybe because community is our only bulwark against the waves of tragedy and fear sweeping our land.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s so odd that now we express our love for each other by keeping our distance.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m one of the lucky ones who can work at home and order what I need. And suddenly there was plenty of time. The perennial excuse evaporated overnight. Without appointments, errands, and classes, I could be wildly productive.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s a month in and I\u2019m just beginning to settle down. I have written. I always do. But my productivity did not escalate with the additional time. I found myself dithering, staring into space, watching shows on Netflix I didn\u2019t even like.<\/p>\n
My old responses to stress\u2014procrastination, obsessing on unimportant details\u2014re-appeared. My thoughts and fears about the pain and suffering hovering over the world like a black cloud was the culprit.<\/p>\n
I meditated and prayed about it. Took the practical steps feasible for me. Reminded myself that I am safe. I am healthy. At this moment, I have a place to live, food to eat, beautiful animals to keep me company, friends to call and zoom with. And now, I\u2019ve started offering writing workshops via zoom. Why not? Virtual training may be the new normal.<\/p>\n
Finally, it occurred. This is the time. To stop making excuses. To look at my reactions to the changes in our world without flinching. To walk the talk. Be honest. The reason I\u2019m not working on my new book for six hours a day is because I\u2019m nervous!<\/p>\n
When I\u2019m nervous, I procrastinate. I read every email, news reports, the latest statistics. Being informed is fine, but knowing all the details doesn\u2019t help.<\/p>\n
So what does? What helps us live with uncertainty? This is what I came up with<\/p>\n
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