“We mostly see what we have learned to expect to see.”
― Color: A Course in Mastering the Art of Mixing Colors
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There’s not been a lot of variety in day-to-day activities during this pandemic countermeasure period. An average day consists of getting-up, taking the dog out, feeding the dog, drinking coffee & watching the news, browsing/reading on the Internet, busy-work on the computer, taking the dog for a long walk, eating breakfast, lunch or brunch, more busy-work, more browsing/reading the Internet, periodically checking for the arrival of on-line order packages or deliveries, reading, taking the dog out another 4-6 times during the day, feeding the dog again, eating dinner, watching the updated news, watching TV/movie/streaming entertainment, reading, taking the dog out for the last time of the day, going to bed…and then repeating it all again the next day. Some variety and “excitement” might be tossed in when running errands, doing chores, or getting take-out. Still, it’s all pretty much routine. Bonnie and my routines do differ, thankfully, or else we wouldn’t be eating as well, and the place would be a lot messier. From my heart, thank you, Bonnie.
Notice I didn’t list any separate photography time in the above daily routine. Life is currently restrictive and sometimes stressful and depressing, so it’s a stretch discovering creativity or motivation. But in my day-to-day routines, I’m trying to view things through different filters. I’m trying to see simple everyday things differently than what I’ve learned to expect to see. So instead of seeing an overgrown hedge and thinking, “Those lawn guys need to get busy,” I’m looking at it as an opportunity for a different perspective, as a multidimensional landscape, as colorful, and hopefully as interesting.
I like the idea of using the current mess we are in as an opportunity to learn to see things differently.
Thanks, Howard. It is indeed a mess. 🙄
Yeah, I think we have binged all the shows we can binge, rewatched movies – even resorted to both of us joining online Euchre games which we loved in college. It is this weird “stuck-in-a-loop” pattern though. It is going to be a long time before things return to normal – and it probably won’t be the same as before. Such a strange concept and time we are in – when a microscopic thing (not even alive by some) can shut down the world.
Today while walking Cosmo I thought – what if another virus creates another pandemic on top of this one? Would it make any difference? Even dog walking sets the mind up to wander now.
Yelp, it’s an even more cursed version of “Groundhog Day” over and over again but without the freedom to be in contact with other people. A hardship? But, then I think of examples from the past like Anne Frank’s family who in WWII hid in a secret annex for over two years, never leaving or getting out. Even if things return to “normal,” we will be changed in some ways, and hopefully, some good can come from this. Being hopeful is one way of coping, I guess.
There’s lots of time for the mind to wander while walking a dog! :-)
I have to say that for me, life has changed very little. I’m fortunate in that I have continued to work as I’ve done for the past two years and have no financial or medical issues to contend with. Of course, the situation in Australia is vastly different to the USA or Europe from what family members on both sides of the pond have been telling us. In any case, for me, if anything, the lockdown has given me the perfect excuse to do what I like to do best, that is, stay home. And it’s been a while since I’ve been accused of being boring when I report to work colleagues that I did nothing over the weekend, seeing as they too have nothing to report :)
But all of that is changing here. Things are reverting back to what it was rather quickly. My son who lives in the city tells me that people are out in force on weekends and after work. Traffic has returned to what it was, but with greater congestion at peak times because people are still reluctant to catch public transport. I find that amusing because according to my wife (who, by the way, does not share my appreciation of staying home :) ), these same people seem not to be at all concerned about distancing when it comes to getting back into the stores which have just reopened.
I have no idea what the future will look like and I suppose it will depend largely on what this virus does, but from my self-imposed narrow perspective, I venture to guess that a few months of lock-down may not be enough to change multi-generational habits. Hopefully, I am wrong and hopefully in the USA and in Europe, the greater impact of the pandemic will enlighten people a little more about the things that need to change. Time will tell.
All the best to you.
As far as the pandemic goes, the majority of the people here in the U.S. would and probably will return to past normals as soon as possible. That’s apparent as the pandemic restrictions are now in the process of being lifted. Because of this “return to normal,” there will probably be additional waves of infection and hot spots of coronavirus the rest of this year and into next year depending upon what happens with the development of a vaccine. It’s still unclear how having shut down everything due to the pandemic will play out on the economy in the longer term. Unemployment is at the highest ever recorded and some businesses will not be returning. No one can say how long a restart may take. But there are also other forces ripping at the U.S. social fabric. There’s a huge division among people here defined by social and political beliefs brought to the surface by the election of Trump as President in 2016. This division runs deep with open hatred and his election has changed the very course of our country and perhaps to some extent the world. Trump, up for reelection, continues to use this divide and to make it worst for his political gains. Then there’s the racial, social, and economic inequalities and injustices that are boiling over after numerous horrible flashpoints. Large demonstrations and rioting in the streets throughout the U.S. during a pandemic…you can’t make this stuff up! The current level of injustice and inequality has reached a point where it can no longer be tolerated or ignored…at least for the moment. So will there be core changes here from all of this? Hell, I don’t know and I can barely get my head around it most days. Take care and stay safe, Cedric.
This down time has offered me the chance to revisit some photography projects started but not finished or even worked on for quite some time. It seems my vision of the world around me has shifted, much more time with nature, different eating habits, social life changes. I have seen myself as a stay at home person but this has brought out the awareness of my need for social interactions and this wandering soul I have. I make more phone calls now and of course the zoom meetings. Much more aware of the fact I want to be on the road, wandering, visiting, than sitting here. It’s really a mixed bag for me.
This unrest in our society does trouble me, some of the frustration I mentioned in my post. The division in our country has me aware of how different people think, live, hate, love, experience life and yet are genetically 99.9% the same creature. I also am having a difficult time getting my head around all that’s happening, let alone understand it. That begs the question, “Where are we headed?”
And, I also am grateful you have Bonnie, as well as Maggie!
Thanks, Monte. I’m very grateful for all I have…I’m a rich man in many ways. I wish I knew where we’re headed. Perhaps I’d sleep better if I did know, or, then perhaps not! :-)
Take care and keep sharing your wonderful posts.