Trying To Get Back To Normal

I have had a difficult time trying to get back to my normal life. Some of it is because so many things have been closed and are still closed, but also I am having a difficult time getting out of my new normal. Since I haven’t been able to keep up with my volunteer activities, I don’t have a schedule or a place to be. I get up when I want, spend a long time easing into my day and then I pick activities that I can do around my house.

I am trying to learn Spanish on Dulingo; I have been redoing all of my flower beds; trying to go through my boxes of pictures to get them organized; working on Ancestry; going through the house time and a gain looking for things that I can get rid of so my sons won’t have to do it after I am gone; cleaning my garage, shop and shed; and have definitely found a lot of time to smell the roses and watch what is happening from different seats all around my house and yard. I find that I get distracted a lot and go from activity to activity. Nothing needs to be done by a specific date so I might start one thing and end up doing two or three things during the day.

I have tried to participate in board meetings with Resources for Independent Living, The Salem County Office for the Disabled Advisory Board and my high school reunion committee. Technology hasn’t worked very well for everyone, people have forgotten to sign on at the right time and when the technology and participation is working, we run into road blocks because the vendors or companies we need to interact with aren’t always available.

My wife and I go to the store one day a week and talk on the phone and text friends and family. We have even done some driveway visits and are planning to attend a social distance get together with friends that have also been staying home. The good news is that the agencies that provide help for our most vulnerable citizens are available and have been reaching out and checking on them. I find myself moving back out into the world and notice that others are doing the same. Hang in there and reach out for help, if you need it. We are going to get through this.