Covid. The word has changed the world. I never imagined I would be part of a pandemic in my lifetime. I remember being taught by teachers and reading about smallpox, yellow fever, and the 1918 flu in our beat-up history books in middle and high school 35+ years ago. It’s strange to fathom that someday our great-great-grandchildren will be reading about this worldwide virus on their electronic devices perhaps studying at a school on the moon.
In our small world in Canfield, Ohio, my husband and I adjusted our lifestyle through the 2 years like many others. Thankfully, covid seems to be in the rearview mirror. Our lives switched gears during it and we now live a slightly new normal coming out of it. We are the lucky ones that got to appreciate life during covid.
- I now enjoy being a homebody. Our beautiful house has been a true sanctuary. Although I always appreciate a good trip to Target, I don’t venture out as often as I used to. My husband works from our office now and it feels good to be home and safe.
- We have welcomed several home renovations. Ironically, we completed some major improvements including 2 bathrooms, our family room, and lots of paint about 2 months before the shutdown occurred. However, during the last year, we’ve continued our house makeover with a whole office redo, fresh carpet, and our landscaping has never looked so good! We have one last project happening soon before we complete our check-list. The upgrades have been refreshing!
- Generally slowing down and catching our breath has been restorative. We always had somewhere to go and someone to see. We absolutely missed our family and close friends but thank goodness for modern technology! The time at home has taught me to enjoy my simple surroundings and focus on things I enjoy, including the creation and writing of my blog site, My Heart In Pen!
- My husband and I have been embracing a healthier lifestyle. We make more suitable food choices, consume less, and move more. We are far from being picture-perfect but it’s certainly more than we did before 2020 and we feel and look better.
Like life before covid, every day isn’t a day at the beach. We are certainly thankful that our family is healthy and that we have the means to live comfortably. We made an unsettling situation tolerable and genuinely meaningful. We are the fortunate ones.
God Bless the over 5 million people who have died to date of covid and the families they left behind.
Maryann
This writing is so beautiful! We know changes come…the COVID gives us time to reflect and get going and make life better for all.. we have much to be thankful for..in the midst of this adversity passing..thank youxxx
Judy Palermo
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. We are so fortunate for our health through all of this. Others have a completely different life now and it’s so sad.
Melanie Riley
My husband and I have been healthy through the pandemic, too. Our son in Los Angeles wasn’t so fortunate. He got Covid last summer and was very sick for a month. Besides being vaccinated, I think one of the best things you can do (not only for Covid, but for any viral illness) is to keep your immune system strong by eating healthy, exercising, meditating, and taking certain supplements. A strong immune system is your best defense for fighting any illness.
We didn’t do any home renovations or projects (not necessarily because of Covid, but other circumstances), but we’re planning on getting some landscaping done this spring and we might have contractors start on our kitchen, too. It’s in desperate need of an update!
Judy Palermo
Taking care of ourselves has definitely been a priority. Our motto for eating is “everything in moderation” and that includes chips and candy! I love home renovations! When you start, hope you have fun picking out new things!