One of the lasting benefits of the lockdown has been how easy it was to break away from group activities when they reconvened.I understood that I enjoyed having a more open calendar instead of rushing off to art group or knitting group as a weekly routine. I am sure some people were miffed, but I had been stuffing down my resentment of the pressure to join group projects as the price of membership. Following my own muse feels so much better, without the chitchat about restaurants and vacations and shopping that was the background of these scheduled gatherings.
Love that you weren’t pulled back into the activities you wanted to let go of. I heard a lot about how freeing lockdown was, weirdly, because people didn’t have to keep up their hectic schedules, that they wanted to keep that space post-lockdown but how too easily they felt sucked back in.
I would definitely agree with the "weirdly freeing" aspect of lockdown too. Ironically having our freedoms limited for a while gave so many of us permission to look at what really mattered to us. And the courage to resist being drawn back into stuff out of a feeling of social obligation.
The financial benefits have been significant as well. Less money spent on new clothes, salon appointments, and cafes and restaurants. My social calendar is somewhat seasonal now. When it's cold I stay home. When it's warmer I can chat with friends at the beach or in a park.
It's a complex one, isn't it? There were feelings of relief that diaries were cleared and also guilt for feeling like they were gaining from lockdown while being aware it was awful for others, with a yearning to keep the imposed spaciousness, and an apprehension that when lockdowns would eventually be lifted to keep a clearer diary nos may have to be said.
Just what I needed to hear today, thank you Gabrielle ❤️
You’re welcome, Hannah, think we all need reminding on a regular basis x
One of the lasting benefits of the lockdown has been how easy it was to break away from group activities when they reconvened.I understood that I enjoyed having a more open calendar instead of rushing off to art group or knitting group as a weekly routine. I am sure some people were miffed, but I had been stuffing down my resentment of the pressure to join group projects as the price of membership. Following my own muse feels so much better, without the chitchat about restaurants and vacations and shopping that was the background of these scheduled gatherings.
Love that you weren’t pulled back into the activities you wanted to let go of. I heard a lot about how freeing lockdown was, weirdly, because people didn’t have to keep up their hectic schedules, that they wanted to keep that space post-lockdown but how too easily they felt sucked back in.
I would definitely agree with the "weirdly freeing" aspect of lockdown too. Ironically having our freedoms limited for a while gave so many of us permission to look at what really mattered to us. And the courage to resist being drawn back into stuff out of a feeling of social obligation.
The financial benefits have been significant as well. Less money spent on new clothes, salon appointments, and cafes and restaurants. My social calendar is somewhat seasonal now. When it's cold I stay home. When it's warmer I can chat with friends at the beach or in a park.
It's a complex one, isn't it? There were feelings of relief that diaries were cleared and also guilt for feeling like they were gaining from lockdown while being aware it was awful for others, with a yearning to keep the imposed spaciousness, and an apprehension that when lockdowns would eventually be lifted to keep a clearer diary nos may have to be said.
haha never heard it put that way but it’s true . . . it IS a complete sentence, and an abrupt complete sentance at that!
Or, concise and clear! 😊
might we say unambiguous, Gabrielle?
I think we might, David.