A time for self-reflection
Last year a doctor I had cause to visit told me quite bluntly I did not look like a runner. It was totally unnecessary and understandably I was insulted. That night I came up with all sorts of pithy retorts to fire back at him should the situation ever occur again.
Then, while out for a lunchtime jog yesterday, I caught sight of myself in a shop window and realised I had to absolutely agree with his learned medical opinion.
What I looked like and what a runner was supposed to look like bore no similarity. The lockdown is bringing all sorts of such personal epiphanies.
Were it not for these restrictions on our day-to-day life I would not be working in my father’s basement apartment and so I would not be able to nip out for a run and get caught up in a bit of self-reflection.
As difficult as it may be, I welcome it. Over the next few weeks (or more) I hope expand my knowledge into other areas as well.
Such as how to play Monopoly as a family without storming off to separate rooms.
Or how to quickly agree on what to watch on Netflix so you don’t waste the whole night umming and ahhing.
Or how to discipline children effectively so that my tellings-off don’t escalate from ‘‘stop that now’’ to ‘‘I’m calling the adoption agency’’ in the space of three to four seconds.
These are small things I can learn that will make a very real difference in my life.
Others are using the lockdown for much more ambitious goals. Some are studying towards a degree. Others are learning an instrument or how to meditate. Thousands of budding singers are writing some number-1 hits this very minute.
Life will be better for us after the lockdown because many of us will have made sure we’ve become better. Better at listening, parenting and better at being friends to our neighbours.
We will almost certainly all become better cooks. Meals are one of the few things that can add variety to our days.
The temptation will be to cook more than three meals – just for something to do. If that is the case for you, may I recommend a mid-afternoon jog past the Westown shops in New Plymouth.
You may see something in yourself to change your mind.