COVID-19 has impacted all of our lives in ways we never
imagined. At first it seemed like this might be a short interruption. My
mindset was just hang in there a few weeks and we’ll get through this. But one
week turned into another week and another, and still the end is not in sight. Living
in New York, at the epicenter of the virus, Governor Cuomo is practicing extra caution
about opening up our state.
As retirees, we may be better prepared to handle more time
at home. Then again, many of us spend our retirement on the road. I’ve
cancelled a trip to Denver. This week I was supposed to be in Chattanooga. The
following week my husband and I had reservations on a Danube riverboat cruise
from Passua, Germany to Budapest, Hungary. All cancelled. Travel is a favorite pastime
for many retirees, but right now it’s not an option. Actually, this might be a
good thing. Travel keeps us from having to figure out what “home” is.
On the positive side, the stay-at-home orders are inspiring us
to be more creative about what we do at home. As you might have heard, people are
baking bread more than ever before. Yeast sales are up 2,000 percent! King Arthur
Flour is posting baking videos online called the Isolation Baking Show. Last week the CBS Morning Show aired a story on what people
are doing at home. Click here to view episode.
This artistic mindset is especially good for retirees, because
unlike many others, we won’t be returning to the office. We are home. And many
of us need to discover and create more ways to enjoy this next stage of life.
My new creative activity is piano lessons. My sister is an
excellent piano teacher, but she lives three hours from me. I’ve often said if we
lived closer, I’d like to take lessons. Well, with her students having to stay
home, Laurie needed a way to continue their lessons, and so she learned how to
use video conferencing through Zoom. That’s when I decided this was my
opportunity to ask if she’d take me on as a student. I understand I’m
committing to a challenging goal. I haven’t had piano lessons in about 45 years!
But I’m also excited about developing my skill set and receiving more enjoyment
from sitting down at the piano.
I’m practicing yoga more than before the pandemic. My favorite
yoga instructor is posting classes online, which means I can take a class when
it works in my schedule and motivation.
I dusted and oiled my sewing machine to get it in good
condition for sewing facial masks. I also sewed fresh pillow covers for the
deck cushions. It’s fun to reconnect with a something I used to do every day.
I’ve also used this extra time at home to write long letters
to college friends. Normally they receive mail from me only at Christmas, and
it’s the standard annual letter and picture. This time I savored the experience
of connection as I reminisced about college days and shared the impact they
have had on my life. In return, I’ve received long letters from them.
Instead of just trying to get through this pandemic, let’s look
for ways that we can use this time to learn, grow, and create new meaning and purpose
in our lives. When the stay-at-home lockdowns are lifted, hopefully we’ll emerge
from this experience with new interests, hobbies, and connections that will further
contribute to our quality of life in retirement.
Copyright 2020. Patrice Jenkins. All Rights Reserved.
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