Sharpening Your Mind, Heart, Spirit & Soul
Before COVID-19, I worked from home. I’d been working from home since the birth of my first daughter, who will be twenty-seven in May. During this transition moving from corporate to home space, I learned the importance of self-care and social isolation. I had no idea then how helpful my habits and rituals would become for such a time like this.
Before COVID-19, every three to four weeks, I frequented the hair salon for a protective style, twist. During my ninety-minute to two-hour stay, I laughed and chatted with whoever showed themselves friendly. Here, Salon Dae, was where I found my courage to sport my natural hair.
From the hair salon, I go to the nail salon for a manicure and pedicure. Maybe gel or dip, a French manicure, or a design. Pedicures gave me time to read and or play Words of Friends. —I’m addicted to that game. When I first played, I regularly lost. I play with more than thirty friends, now, and I win more than I lose. — Nail salons aren’t a friendly place. Language and culture barriers keep conversation stilted. Most times, I tried to break those barriers, especially when getting a manicure. That’s a face to face encounter, a four-feet distance.
If these appointments were scheduled on a Wednesday, afterward, I’d pick up my daughter. We’d head off to the grocery store, always stopping by Bert’s Bread House for fresh pumpernickel or a Kalamata loaf. Perhaps we’d share a brownie or cupcake. Lauren and I would chat with the person behind the counter, who stood less than four feet away. Before discovering this bakery, I limited my bread intake to pumpernickel and Ezekiel bread, after finding this bakery, I fell off the wagon. On a Wednesday like this, we ordered takeout: Chipotle, Pork Dumplings, Pizza or Chinese Food. Sundays after worship service was another day for takeout or sit-down restaurant service.
Before COVID-19, every four weeks after Zumba class or a visit to the nail salon, I chatted with the esthetician during my wax appointment. Afterward, I stocked up on personal items, bath soap and lotion, toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss at the Christmas Tree Shoppe. I purchased two at a time, to be sure there was always one in the house. And I didn’t have to return to the store anytime soon. I’m sure I picked up this habit from my beloved Aunt Ruby and Aunt Arleen.
You, see I’ve never been a fan of shopping — not online or in stores. Not for clothes or shoes, groceries, or any shopping. Therefore, I make it a point to schedule one out and about day to do as much as possible to save time later. I’m not so much a fan of people. But like shopping, I schedule a time to flutter out and about, socially. The goal: to stay inside more than outside.
Maybe you’re like me—a creative introvert—who takes pleasure in social distancing. Solitude. Introspection. (Read the blog post “This Thing Called Silence & Solitude”) Living a relaxed pace to avoid burn out. Sensing things in the world around you. Maybe I’m partly like you, extroverted with infectious enthusiasm and getting things done in the world.
Before COVID-19, I taught a three-hour interdisciplinary class: art, writing, and literature once a week in the classroom. I’d been on hiatus from teaching from 2018-2019, and getting back into the classroom was a bit wonky. During the 2019 fall semester, I balanced conference presentations, writing projects, and teaching like an extrovert. This semester one three-hour class and writing projects sufficed.
Before COVID-19, I was slated to preach my fifth sermon at a Hat & Pearls Tea. I’d labored since January on the sermon. I had a title, a scripture, an exegesis of the text, an image, and an illustration. Writing a sermon was harder than I expected because preaching, like teaching, is God-gifted talents. They were not vocations I had ever expected to enter. I had planned to be a writer living in solitude, writing books.
Before COVID-19, I began reading the Bible in Chronological Order. It has been on my bucket list for a while. Speaking of my bucket list, before COVID-19, my husband and I got our passports. We planned a four-day trip to Canada in June before Lauren’s senior prom and high school graduation. This also meant all my children would be home. Just as I had not envisioned myself as a preacher, I had not envisioned myself as a mother. ( See blog post: “A Mother’s Reflection from a Mother Who Didn’t Want Children“) But I was a mother of four, two born of me and two born to me.
Our Thanksgiving gathering in 2018. The enter tribe.
Before COVID-19, I had planned to visit my mother in Alabama during my Spring Break. I’d purchased my plane ticket in January. I was determined to spend some mommy-daughter time with her. I looked forward to her salmon croquettes, pancakes and treating her to the movies. Let me not forget our weekend trip to Tuscaloosa. She had planned to shop for shoes. I had planned to visit a childhood friend.
The week before the seriousness of COVID-19, I was home with fever-like symptoms. My mother insisted I cancel my trip. My husband smiled in agreement. I resisted. I don’t get sick often, and this will pass. Although I was feeling better within less than a week with sniffles and a slight cough, I canceled my trip. COVID-19 had announced its presence, loudly.
I remember the last few words to my students on Monday, March 9, 2020, the week before Spring Break. “If we are not allowed to gather after Spring Break, I’ll create online discussions.” One student said if you create a discussion forum, give us more time. The last time I was the first one to post but had to wait for others. I said, “You’re prepared for an online class, we’ve done it before.”
As I’m writing this post, my students and I have met three times through WebEx, and they were not prepared for online classes because all their courses went online. I was not prepared for prepping the online class or offering more student conference time.
Before COVID-19, I wanted to teach an online class. I have an online teaching certification, and during my teaching hiatus drafted a dairy writing e-course. The next step was learning how to effectively go online. Thanks to COVID-19, I now have experience teaching online.
It’s the little things I’m reminded of during this mandatory social distancing. Life, as we all know it has changed. With this “online in a hurry,” we have a new normal. For me, that means learning to care for my hair and my nails. My nails are chipped and uneven. My hair looks pretty good. Sunday morning worship is via Zoom, as well as Tuesday Bible Study. I’m still reading the Bible in chronological order; some days, I read more than others. I call my mother more often and invade the lives of my young adult daughters via video chat. I send more “hello-how are you” text messages and try to call instead of getting lost in social media noise.
What hasn’t changed, before COVID-19, God is my refuge and strength, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Hebrews 13:8 reminds me “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” This is the part of my life despite COVID-19 that will not change.
Until next time,
Stay safe. Wash your hands.
