By Stacy Borsuk
How do I feel? The question of the day. Or rather, the question of the pandemic – how to rise from laziness to gratitude.
My friend asked me the other day what I would title this chapter if I was writing a book. What a thoughtful question. I thought of the famous line from Tale of Two Cities – “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Our world impacted like never in our lifetimes with stay at home orders, recessions, joblessness, social distancing, and shortages of basic items. Yet the world is healing, our oceans and skies blue again. Dolphins and fish frolicking in the Venice canals. Families and friends spending quality time together. Puzzles and games, gardening, baking, cooking, walks, talking. Activities we let slip away in the midst of jobs taking over, kids’ sports and activities running schedules and drive through dinners eaten in the car on the way to endless errands.
My chapter title though was not as profound as War and Peace or even some of my friend’s titles. They in their wisdom and philosophical outlook named theirs “Reset”, “Mindfulness”, “Stop and Smell the Roses” and “When I Heard the Birds Sing Again.” Nope, my title is Gratitude and Laziness. Maybe not profound, but unfortunately pretty darn accurate.
Let’s Talk About Gratitude
I am so grateful for things once taken for granted. I am grateful for the health of my family and friends. My NY circle was hit hard. Relatives and friends hospitalized and still recovering, it is a long hard road but I am thankful for their health today. And I’m filled with gratitude for my kids who have taken care of both my mother and me with visits from our porches and driveways, FaceTime calls to touch base and shopping for us when they are out.
Now for Laziness
It’s not what I intended of course. March 17th St. Patrick’s Day, the first day of my self-isolation, I contemplated how to use this time. I was going to learn piano, clean my house and garage Marie Kondo-style. I was going to get in shape by exercising and focusing on eating clean and healthy. I was going to clean out my closets, learn how to bake, cook new recipes, brush up on Spanish and read all those books sitting on my shelves. Such big plans to use this time wisely. Make the best of a bad situation.
Flash forward – it is now seven weeks later. I am taking stock of where I am. It’s not pretty, I’m sorry to say. I still can’t play chopsticks on the piano. I started and never finished the closets. I did do my garage – only because my daughter insisted, and she did the majority of the work. I have baked and cooked and as a result, I’m up six pounds! And while I have finished two books, truthfully, I have watched reality TV the majority of the time. Let me know if you want to discuss “Married at First Sight”, “Love is Blind”, “Listen to Your Heart” or “90 Day Fiancé” and any of its many spinoffs. Can’t forget Jerry and Maury. Oh, and Spanish, I can ask “donde el bano” with the best of them. Like I said, I am making the best of a bad situation.
So, while I may have not conquered all of my tasks planned for this quarantine, I have found gratitude in everyday miracles. In the heartwarming stories of generosity and kindness during this trying time. In the medical miracles that have occurred across the US and the world. The earth working to heal itself. The memes and videos that keep me laughing every day. So, when it all comes down to basics love, health, gratitude generosity and kindness still abound. Even during this crazy unprecedented worldwide pandemic. I pray we maintain the good and let go of the bad as the gloves and masks come off and social distancing becomes a distant memory.
Pizza, Popcorn and Bottomless Doritos
Navigating through my first (and hopefully only) worldwide pandemic has been challenging and downright difficult at times. Okay to be honest, most of the time. I have discovered I am a comfort eater resulting in my brand new Rubenesque body. A body now that now only allows elastic waist. Hence my new wardrobe comprised solely of yoga pants and tee shirts. I discovered this while doing my laundry which was just said yoga pants and baggy shirts. I am going with more to love.
I found myself discussing this with my daughter as well as the idea of naming this chapter in my life. A friend of mine asked this very thoughtful question of me prompting a myriad of titles between my daughter and me. Said daughter, my number one child and hilarious human being named her chapter Pizza, Popcorn and Bottomless Doritos. I told you she was funny.
But it didn’t end there. Having all the time in the world now we came up with enough chapters for me to write a book. No, I have never written a book and no I am not talented enough to. But I do have enough time to and I just may try it.
I present to you the outline for my new book called Pizza, Popcorn and Bottomless Doritos including the chapters I plan to include:
Chapter 1. The Inspired Alcoholic
Chapter 2. The Unprincipled Parent – How I taught my kids during COVID-19
Chapter 3. Permanent Detention
Chapter 4. Eating My Way Through the Pandemic – One Cupcake at a Time
Chapter 5. If its Beer Bread is it Really Alcohol?
Chapter 6. A Pound a Day Keeps COVID Away – How I Ate My Way Through the Pandemic
Chapter 7. Zoom Meetings – Trousers Not Required
Chapter 8. My Son/Husband/Significant Other Thinks He’s a Musician
Chapter 9. A Lesson from Our Pets
Chapter 10. Stay Away from the Scissors and Other Scary Stories
Chapter 11. At One with the Couch
Chapter 12. Suzi Homemaker Doesn’t Live Here
Chapter 13. Who’s That Lady in the Mirror
Chapter 14. Another *&^% *# Amazon Package????
Another day, another load of yoga pants and baggy tee shirts in the wash. Everything is closed. Nothing to do but eat and watch reality TV. I know, I know, there are much better uses of my time, but I have kind of perfected this lifestyle and want to continue … with a perfect blend of gratitude and laziness, of course.