The Lock-down: Part 2: A Medical Vibration

Last year ended on a medically emergency for me. While rushing to throw Christmas together in less than a week, I began prepping Christmas decorations and cleaning house. While washing a very fragile glass vase, I lost my grip on it, causing it to fall and shatter in the sink. Happening quickly, as these things do, I didn’t see which part of the broken glass sliced two of my fingers on my dominant hand. 

Almost four months, there’s light visible scarring, and some tenderness if it’s touched. 

For the start of the new year, I suffered from a cold and decided to cancel all activities. Knowing that stronger forces were at play, I decided to try hard to really slow down. Apparently self-care was more important for the start of my new year. 

Just as I was on the mend, here comes news reports of the coronavirus. Shortly after news broke, the virus made its rounds to the United States. Then social media panic over people purchasing mass quantities of toilet papers sweeps our nation. Soon after this hostile shopping spree, and just as darkness takes hold, things began to close down. Schools, social gatherings, places of employment, churches, sports, air travel restrictions, time curfews, city and town lockdowns, court orders to enforce those social distancing pleas, and so much more. 

Feeling close to normal again- completely over my cold- and being able to hold things in my hand without pain, well little to no pain when writing at least, I felt like another wall came up to my new year. But it was a great feeling to once again recover physically from my deep flesh wounds. 

Cutting my hand, as bad as I had, I spent weeks being concerned whether feeling would come back in the area. The glass sliced both fingers near the joint where they bend, on the inside. 

Memories of year cooking, going through culinary school, using a knife, may never be the same. I had to relearn how to hold utensils, writing tools, all my different knives, just everyday tasks you perform with your dominant hand. In a sense, I was very lucky that the cut was not as deep and some people are not as fortunate to have a minimal hand injury. In those weeks, I deep a lot of deep thinking like this and I am very thankful to heal.

For having an online business, keeping up with writing was a chore, typing was painful-but not as painful watching me “peck” the keyboard to type! 

Spring is here and so is COVID-19

I was now feeling like life was back to normal and ready for warmer days to go outside, work on content, and move forward with life. But hold the rotation of the Earth just minute…people were tested positive of the coronavirus in the states and now I can’t socialize without bandaged hands for once? Being ordered to stay home was not new territory for me. I ‘ve started the process of working from home years ago. Fortunately, too, that I have open space living out in the country. 

Time to count those country blessings now:

• You need to work from home ad use video conferencing for meetings and other non-essential work.
  • Check
• No social in-person gatherings more than 10 people
  • Check
• Closure of all national and state and city and town parks
  • Check
• Public libraries closed
  • Check
• Restaurants are closing dine-in-but take out/delivery available
  • Check

I’m sure the list can go on, but the main things I can count as my country blessings are where I chose to live and where I chose to work, has prepared me for a doomsday scenario. 

Prepping VS Hoarding VS Panic

One thought I have often, besides thoughts of being from Texas and why only Texans will “get it”, is the age-old debate of country living versus city living. It’s easy for city folk to tote about the benefits of city living, and yes, in some instances, easier, but in my viewpoint, there’s plenty that is essential to life in the country as a way of living. 

In one episode of The Andy Giffith Show, Andy and Barney out together a high school reunion party. Andy hopes to see an old flame at the party. Eventually, she arrives and they seem to have their old teenage feelings resurface until the topic of city and country living comes up in conversation. 

A rather good episode, however, her comment about being a “big fish in a little pond” wasn’t the life she wanted to live. Andy loved his small-town living, yet his date preferred to expand in a big city. 

No matter that we have the technology to connect all forms of a way of living, the debate, I confess, will continue until people see that country living is not limiting in any way. 

Comparing my bullets to thoughts and experience:

• You need to work from home ad use video conferencing for meetings and other non-essential work:

Done and done. Being an entrepreneur, you’re essential. Maybe not in the “emergency essential” group -unless this is your entrepreneurial field, but a lot of entrepreneur bosses can work remotely. 

It’s a skill that quickly becomes how you work and run your business. Everyone has heard time and time again, business is moving online-unless you’ve tunned out the phrase now. Well, tune back in. 

Now more than ever, businesses are learning how cost-effective it is to run your organization online is. Affiliates and big businesses know this and have for years now. And if you’re a small business, the reality is certainly giving you an eye-opener today with the coronavirus shutdowns. 

• No social in-person gatherings more than 10 people:

No problem, because some days I love a little alone time. Time to reflect on dreams, meditation, work, start a new project, or finish one

In-person gatherings that are limited and to some families, would rather just stay closed off, that’s okay too. I have always preferred phone conversations as opposed to texting, so increased phone calls have increased to my delight. 

• Closure of all national and state and city and town parks:

With land to loam, park closures are of no concern. I have daily views of both the sunrise and sunset, as well as full moons. I can enjoy watching wildlife roam to give birth to their own generations-even bunnies just in time for Easter!

One new project I’m rather excited about taking on is a new hobby of exploring all the wildflowers on the property. I’ve always wanted to learn about studying botany and being able to identify edible plants. And why not? Just another skill I can add to my culinary degree. There’s a lot to learn and what better time than during a city lockdown.

• Public libraries closed:

No problem again. I love books, and just the thought of holding it in my hand is where the love expands. I still have plenty of reading material from my bulk book-buying over the years. Some days my internet connection is weak or slow, so I’ll take that as another sign from the universe to unplug from the outside world and technology altogether, and turn to my personal collection of books for a refresher. 

• Restaurants are closing dine-in-but take out/delivery available

You know even better! As the United States is one of the unhealthiest countries in terms of food quality and nutrition, and I don’t mind this suggested lockdown. I have staples at home and know how to cook for myself and my family. This also takes the pressure off local restaurants for those who will be flooding their establishments because they lack the basic skills to cook and bake for themselves. Or just without a kitchen(space) and tools. (Diet and handicap not included for the ones who are truly able to perform these tasks.) 

For the past two years, I have started work and constructing my own home garden and this year it has really taken off. And just in time for the prices of food increases due to the virus and limited staffing at most food facilities. 

Tryin to fully grasp this virus and why it’s happening, is like seeing that I wasn’t the only one whos needed a ‘medical’ set back to see the bigger picture. 

Is the entire world on medical leave? Perhaps not. But perspective is here and its showing you with open arms change is needed in your life. Awareness for many things is being asked of each of us. Take the news to reflect on your own life. The faster we can reflect on these changes we need to make within, and the faster we can do this together, the quicker we’ll understand why we needed a virus and all these restrictions. 

Wishing you health and strength to be open,

Until next time, 

Cassie