WHAT TO DO WHEN THE WORLD PAUSES Or…activities you can enjoy on a rainy day | By Gary Jobson It’s raining as I write this article, everyone is living at home hoping to avoid contact with the coronavirus, the economy has come to a standstill, and yet we are still alive and anxious to get back to living a normal life. It made me think about what we have been doing while waiting out the virus. The tragedy surrounding us is unlike anything we have experienced. The daily news announcing the number of positive test results and deaths from the virus have been horrifying. In an attempt to offset this calamity, I made a list of activities my wife, our friends, and I have
been doing to keep connected with the rest of the world and maintain some semblance of modern day life. The first thing I suggest is to make your own list of activities and then set up a schedule to accomplish your goals. It might take a little discipline, but once you get rolling you will find that your list will actually get longer. I find a daily routine comforting. During times of stress I have learned to think back to past successes. Learning to overcoming adversity is one the strongest attributes we can achieve. These past few months have provided many opportunities to do things that we rarely did before the virus arrived on our shores. Walking has always been a good therapeutic and cleansing exercise. People keep their distance as they walk past each other, but always seem friendly. I think we are all going to be healthier in the future thanks to our long walks. Shaking hands and
enthusiastic hugs will be considered no-no’s. Social distancing will be with us for a long time. On a side note, I think the name “Social Distance” would be an appropriate name for a boat. As you walk past historic structures, trees, flowers, the water, monuments, and all kinds of other objects take a minute to study intricate details, or read the plaques detailing the background of the object. You will learn a lot and become more connected to your community. It is a refreshing activity. Along your walking route take a moment to stretch periodically and pause to study the water, a field, or the sky. I marvel at the architecture of the State House, St. Anne’s Church on the circle, and the symmetry of so many structures that are hundreds of years old. Our city’s architecture has survived the test of time. It makes me feel good believing that most of these structures will still be here long into the future. I’ve noticed that there seems to be less garbage on the streets, and that local gardens are in pristine condition. Since people are at home they are spending more time sprucing up their properties. I like to go for perfection around our 120-foot by 40-
foot property in Murray Hill. Over the past few months, I’ve had the time to clean out closets, tidy up the garage, restore the basement into an orderly space, and happily edited every file in my office. I had quite a few speaking engagements cancelled this spring and summer. Instead of traveling for my gigs, I started working on two new books that have been on my “futures” list for many years. Interviews, gathering material, and writing can all be done from home. In 2014, I moved into an office over my garage. After 36 years of paying rent for a down town office and studio, I wanted a quiet space for thinking, reading, writing, and planning. Little did I know how valuable this small respite loft would become. The most important thing is to keep working. In fact, I am confident we will see more people working from home after the virus fades.
We’ve participated in many “virtual cocktail parties” using internet technology. How lucky we are, to communicate using both voice and video. Every entity that I am engaged with has embraced the proficient use of ZOOM, Blue Jeans, Face Time, SKYPE, and other services. I have to smile thinking back to my younger days and marveling at the comic book hero, Dick Tracy, and his two-way wrist radio.
whatsupmag.com | June 2020 | What’s Up? Eastern Shore
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