the benefits of a quiet time

The benefits of social distancing - or as I like to phrase it - distance socialization.
We all chafe a bit at this 'sheltering at home" situation. Even introverts like me, who love peacefully curling up with a good book and not moving for hours, can get cabin fever. One thing that gets me through is my daily morning walks. I imagine there are extroverts out there that are tearing their hair out and bouncing off the walls, deprived of their energizing interactions with the crowd.

We know that it is for our own good, and that it will pass - eventually. But all too often we focus on what we can't do and miss the things we can do. We have the time to slow down and ponder, meditate, and maybe do more careful examination of and planning for our lives. We have quiet to hear ourselves think. In the midst of not running around gathering things we can think about what we really need. As some have said, don't automatically rush back to what and where you were before.
Maybe we can leave some of that "baggage" behind.

In the midst of lack, be grateful for what we do have and realize that we may not need all that we think we do. Minimalism is not a bad thing. In the absence of the crowds, be grateful to the ones we have and hold close.

And we do have the ability to connect with others. We all have phones and their not just for setting appointments and meetings, etc. They can be a lifeline to friends and family. This is a 'round to it" moment, taking advantage of the time to connect. And our social media is another way to connect.

Those of us who are in the Toastmaster World have made the transition from in person meetings to conducting our club meetings online and keep up communications with lots of laughter as we struggle with the technical connection issues. And we even conducted speech contests online.
Zoom is now my friend. And we have been able to make contacts across the country and around the world. We had recent visitors from India and South Korea, who like us in the US are dealing with sheltering at home.

Please use this time to contemplate and grow, spend some time on making an impact on those people and tasks you have near. And don't be too eager to rush back to your "former" life. The world will still be there, no hurry.