Keep, Lose, Change & Add

It’s been a strange time the last few months, social distancing and quarantining, and it has brought many changes to our lives, some of them surprising, some unwelcome.

However you’ve found this time, as restrictions begin to loosen, now is maybe a good time to evaluate the lessons we’ve learned from this experience, what we’ve discovered about ourselves that we want to keep, what we haven’t enjoyed and will lose and how we want our lives to change as life returns to something more like what it used to be.

First of all, many of us have gained a new appreciation and gratefulness for the many workers who kept going through the depths of the crisis.  From healthcare workers working long and difficult shifts, to police and firefighters always there for us, to grocery workers continuing to work in hard conditions, and the many essential service people who continued working with the public, enabling others to stay home, we are most thankful they were there and willing to help out. Let’s keep the gratitude going for these people.

Then, as you reflect over the past 3 months, what’s been the best and worst experiences for you?  Have you reconnected with friends, neighbours or relatives that you haven’t been in touch with for awhile?  Have you deepened any relationships at a distance that’s brought you happiness? Have you discovered new ways to connect with others that you wouldn’t have tried out before?  Are there things you can keep in your life that you’ve discovered as a result of all the changes in the past few months?

How about the worst experiences – we hope you haven’t been ill, but perhaps as widows and widowers isolation and loneliness have been challenging.  If so, take heart that things are improving, summer is around the corner and maybe soon we’ll be able to meet at safe distances at the park or elsewhere.  Let’s just erase the sad or bad times from our minds and focus on what good is coming instead of what’s past.

Finally, have you discovered things you’d like to change or add to your life?  Has technology suddenly been much more useful than ever before?  Will you keep connecting via the Internet when this is over?  Are there new or different ways of doing things you’ve found during this time that you’ll implement in your life going forwards?

It’s up to us to decide how we will shape our lives after this is over. There are many options and choices.  What will you keep, lose, change or add?  Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or email us at widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com and we’ll post your responses.