What have you learned about yourself during the pandemic?
We asked Chicagoans: What have you learned about yourself during the coronavirus pandemic? Some answers have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
“That I am quite content to spend days at a time with myself doing the things that I want to do instead of the things that I had to do. I have read a number of books, written a couple of short stories and did a great deal of volunteer work for causes that carry meaning for me.”
Jim Rafferty
“I was blessed with a couple of food boxes, and I learned that I can be an even better and more creative cook. I used several types of produce that I had never eaten before and that now I’m a huge fan of.”
Polonia Sarabia
“I NEEDED A DOG. MY BORDER COLLIE MIX PUPPY HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH JOY AND STABILITY DURING THIS INSANE YEAR.”
Kalli Ricka
“That I’m a pretty good landscaper and painter. Not so much a handyman though.”
Bill Pionke
“I learned that I was depressed. I fell into a cycle. Over the years, I gained weight, became insecure, stopped hanging with family and friends because I was ashamed and embarrassed. Since the pandemic, I’ve learned to love myself again. I worked on my smile, and I’m losing weight and getting healthier.”
Stacy Kinmore
“That being in the house with my kids brought us even closer.”
Melissa Goodman-Houston
“I LOVE WORKING FROM HOME AND I LOVE SOLITUDE.”
Denise Donnelly
“I enjoy multitasking and balancing home and work more without the commute.”
Andrea Gorman
“How much I miss interacting with people I don’t live with, and how much I wish I didn’t have to interact with my family as much.”
Elizabeth Gatzke
“I love watching ‘Shahs of Sunset’ and ordering an OMG plate from Olive Mediterranean Grill. I do not tire of this combo.”
Kyle Douglas
Pooja Khungar
“I love going on holidays and miss them so much.”
Gillian Cafferkey
“That fresh air and exercise beats Netflix and Prime.”
Keith Starnes
“I miss live music even more than I thought I would.”
Mike Funkman
“I HAVE A HIGH TOLERANCE FOR BEER.”
“That as much as I thought I would love to work from home, I hate it.”
Toni Willey
“That I can always find new tasks and hobbies to keep myself busy and never get bored.”
Laura Keating
“That I will do what I need to do to protect others, even if they don’t care about me.”
Marylyn Folino
“I’m cranky when I don’t get hugs.”
Mary Torres
“I can fix a lot of things around the house by watching YouTube videos, except the dishwasher — it was bad and I made it worse. End result: My wife is getting a new dishwasher for Sweetest Day.”
Mike Ruffone