Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Homebody

The forced slow down of life due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been quite a welcome change for me. For most of the last decade, I have excelled at over-committing myself and my time. In hindsight, it only increased my natural tendency to be anxious and resulted in a lot of undue stress and worry. I wanted to make a concerted effort this year to slow down and find better balance within my life with the hope that I could eliminate much of my anxiety for good.

I've been doing a great job slowing down since the start of the year. The majority of my weekends have been completely free of prior commitments/obligations, and I've been spending a significant portion of my time reading - oh, and taking naps! I've become a bit of a homebody and I don't hate it.

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Sunrise rays hitting Canaan Mountain

In a lot of ways, I've been inadvertently prepping myself to be physically distanced from other humans. (I don't feel like "social" distancing is accurate, I'm plenty social still! It is all just digital.)

It helps immensely that I have a job I can do from home indefinitely, my horses are home with me, and I live in the middle of nowhere. My good fortune is not lost on me for one moment. I am so, so, so very grateful for each of these things, and I recognize that they each enable me to have infinitely less anxiety as a result of this whole ordeal.

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I can't remember the last time Dave and I took a leisurely walk around the neighborhood together 

But all the same, I needed this slow down. I needed to be better at embracing my inner homebody. Better at taking time to myself instead of sharing it constantly. My mind is still busy, but not at the lightspeed pace it was forced to maintain for so long. And that is a most welcome change.

Now, I read all the time. I sit still and sip my morning tea. I putter around the house watering plants. I slowly muck the dry lot and stalls without hurrying through the task. And I am so very excited to start the seeds I collected from last summer's flowering plants this weekend.

I'm going to continue to do my best to embrace this homebody nature as the next month of physically distancing continues. These small tasks around home are things I can control amidst a world in chaos. And it feels good to do something in my control that gives me a little happiness.

Stay well, y'all. 💚
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8 comments:

  1. MandyMarch 31, 2020 at 10:26 AM

    <3 <3 You too!

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  2. DomMarch 31, 2020 at 1:54 PM

    This sounds perfectly lovely. I am grateful for our little slice of heaven on the farm, but I am really hating being in a bustling, populated state like NJ right now. So much stress.

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    1. Liz StoutMarch 31, 2020 at 3:23 PM

      I'd be an absolute fuss bucket in a more urban environment. Thinking of you and wishing you the best through this hard time <3

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  3. TMarch 31, 2020 at 2:05 PM

    Stay safe! The little piece of the world you've carved out for yourself there looks like somewhere well worth slowing down and enjoying :)

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  4. Calm, Forward, StraightMarch 31, 2020 at 8:21 PM

    Being in the middle of nowhere has attracted folks here from more populated places, despite the fact that our county's borders are closed to anyone but residents. There have been two cases of COVID, both visitors from the NY area. So - not sure where that leaves the risk-related anxiety, but still super thankful to be here for this ordeal, and that my job is considered essential. Been practicing anxiety mitigation, and like you, embracing activities that promote relaxation. There really is absolutely no reason to rush right now.

    Also - thought of you a while back when the resident Osprey pairs showed up - three weeks earlier than last year, which was at least a week earlier than 2018. The existing nests, which they always spar over, were blown down in Dorian. I was afraid they might not stay on the property this year, but they've chosen a new spot and started a nest. I guess they needed the extra time for construction. ;D

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    1. Liz StoutMarch 31, 2020 at 8:34 PM

      UGH. I feel you on the out-of-towners. A lot of Canaan - majority of it, really - is second homes. A lot of people fled and tried to flee here. A lot took weekend vacations. The local FB groups have been VICIOUS. It's like Lord of the Flies online. Eeesh. But the fear of them bringing stuff is REAL.

      And that is so very cool about the ospreys. Not so much the early part - cause climate change is pure fuckery. But the fact that they're building a new nest is BEYOND cool! You'll have to let me know how many hatchlings they end up having. ❤

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  5. emmaMarch 31, 2020 at 11:34 PM

    I feel your serenity even in these absolutely bat shit (no pun intended) times ❤️

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  6. TeresaAApril 1, 2020 at 1:15 PM

    I have never appreciated being out of a city so much.

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