Three Things I Learned This Spring

When I decided to participate in Emily P. Freeman‘s “Things I Learned This Season“, I knew I would have no trouble coming up with three things.

The Coronavirus crisis, of course, dominated everyone’s spring. How could I not have learned from the most momentous event of our lifetimes?

All of us have been schooled by the pandemic.

We learned how to social distance. We learned how to grocery shop while wearing a face mask. We learned that community spread is a bad thing and flattening the curve is a good thing.

We learned not to take the small stuff for granted: eating dinner at a restaurant, getting together with our friends, hugging the people we love. If I see you after the pandemic is over, watch out, I might not let go.

For this post, I tried to distill all of the things I learned this spring into three of the most important ones. Here they are in no particular order.

Prioritize the important things

 

1. By fantasizing about what I would do when the stay-at-home order is lifted, I learned what I missed most.

I miss seeing my family. I miss traveling. I miss traveling to see my family.

We have missed two family-oriented trips already and I am determined not to miss any more. Barring specific orders forbidding it, we plan to travel to Colorado to celebrate our grandson’s fifth birthday at the end of July.

I miss races. Virtual races are not the same thing, even if they provide a T-shirt and medal.

Real-life racing comes with sizzle, with pizzazz, with excitement and energy and fun. And maybe a beer and a soft pretzel at the end if you’re lucky. Or a banana and a bagel if you’re not.

When real-life races are once again an option, I want to get some trail races on the schedule. Maybe even ones we can travel for.

Life is too short to miss too many celebrations, whether they look like birthday festivities, hopping on airplanes, or gathering at the starting line.

I am ready to begin celebrating again.

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered” Psalm 39:4

Still crazy after all these years

2. Bill and I will celebrate anniversary number 42 this August (Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise.)

We have told each other several times this spring how lucky we are to be staying at home not only with someone you love, but someone you actually enjoy spending time with.

The photo above was taken before the sixth run of our 4x4x48 caper (where we ran four miles every four hours for 48 hours).

It’s good to have a life and running partner who, when one of us (often me) suggests we do something outlandish, the other one’s response is usually affirmative.

“(Love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:7

Fear and sadness look different on different people

Photo credit

When I was in junior high school my friends and I went through a phase where we frequently borrowed each other’s clothes.

I can remember coveting a certain new sweater that looked extremely flattering on one of my classmates.

I screwed up my courage, asked her if I could borrow it, and, to my surprise, she agreed to lend it to me.

As soon as I slipped the sweater over my head, I knew it did not look as good on me as it did on her. I was not as, um…curvaceous as she. On my friend, the sweater accentuated her good points; on me, it hung limply.

The sweater looked different on different people.

Emotions are the same way.

Joy looks different on my husband than me. I am much more expressive; Bill is more stoic. I wear my emotions on my sleeve; he is circumspect.

Fear and sadness can look like anger on some people.

While we should never condone or tolerate hate, racism, ageism, classism, or any of the other “-isms” this pandemic seems to have accentuated, it helps if we understand the emotions behind the public stances.

I sometimes just need to get over myself and get off of my high horse.

When I immediately assume a position of self-righteous indignation, a discussion of any serious topic is precluded.

It helps if we approach those with whom we disagree with an attitude of understanding.

We are living in unprecedented times. We have all suffered some form of loss. It’s natural to feel somewhat scared and sad.

Let’s not compound the fear and sorrow by deepening the chasm between us. Let’s begin with an attitude of grace.

And if that doesn’t work, we can always move to righteous indignation.

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6: 27 – 28.

 

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Please click on the following link to read more funny or inspirational one-liners. One-Liner Wednesday.