We
are all nice people – my husband and me (as well as you and your loved ones).
But lockdown life showed us – how much we need “alone time”. To take a walk –
just me (you) alone, drive into the city, spend a few ours doing “your
projects” – learning, reading, daydreaming…And during this time – not
administering to needs of others a single second.
That
is why 6 months and now a year of work from home has been so hard on me. And I
know – on many of you. After 6 months I
had a nervous breakdown and spent a happy day in a hospital. Things that happen
for the first time, and difficult ones at that, change you. I had time to
think, and I used it.
Back
home, I saw the world with different eyes. I didn’t want the experience
repeated and I knew that it was up to me to change some of the rules and set
boundaries. (I know, worn out word “boundaries”, but we do need them. And it is
also “this is what I am comfortable with,
let’s fit this into our life-dance”).
Here
is what we came up with. Thank God I have my room with a door, where I can
escape. This is “everything” room – studio, reading room, and an office with a
daybed for naps. There is a “sun/moon” sign on the door. I made it myself. It
looks like one made by a five-year-old, but works for me. Here it is.
*
“Sun”
means, it’s ok to come in, “moon” means I am taking a nap or don’t want to be
disturbed.
This
is just one thing. I am even more proud of my other arrangements. We learned
how to be together while doing different things and not bothering each other.
Our bed is the favorite “together place”. The TV is also there. So, while my
husband is playing chess online (with music in headphones, or without it), I
can watch a movie (with my noise cancelling headphones), post a blog, reply to
emails or sew. It is not “quality time”, but sitting next to each other feels
good. Later we watch something together.
Another
part of life dance – I read in my room during the day, then to my husband –
after the evening movie, and I also have 30-40 minutes – with my teddy bear until
1:30-2 am.
I also learned to take short walks by myself.
In the evening or during the day. Before the pandemic solitary walks were not a
problem. When my husband left for the office, I started my day with a walk
quite comfortably. But now? You know how we are afraid to hurt another’s
feelings. So, to every “I’ll go with you” we say, “Yes, sure”. So, you have
more walks together.
And
I knew I should find a way out. A good one so far is – going down (we live in a
mid-rise) to get mail and take out the trash. With this done, I just walk around
the building to get some fresh air. The most difficult thing here was to tell
my husband – I want to go anyway, even if he suggests getting the mail himself.
By
now, my husband also understands that I need these walks – for my health and
sanity. I mentioned it numerous times. It is always worth to speak up, no
matter how scary it might seem. In my experience, silence ruins more
relationships.
Joke Corner
-
You
are without a mask!
-
A
mask? No, I usually wear a bucket.
-
You
mean a bucket with holes to see things?
-
No,
regular bucket. This way life is full of surprises.
Leaving You With a Quote
"It is foolhardy to try and apply
discipline, or secondary order, to a spontaneous creativity that automatically
gives you the finest order that nature could ever provide."
—The Personal Sessions 5 Session 877
(Deleted) September 3, 1979
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