Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 21

Today was a lovely warm day, hopefully the first of many more.

Despite the social distancing measures, a lot of people ventured out to soak up the sun, outside apartments people were enjoying the afternoon sun sitting appropriate distances apart and socialising. Nature continues her transformation into spring and I enjoy the opportunity to go for a walk and take it in.

In the park there were a lot of people and although everyone keeps their distance I am starting to wonder how long we will have that freedom. The park entrances have been shut except for the main entrances and I keep thinking one day soon they will close it off completely.

I wonder how this is affecting our human psychology on a global level? All the news just covers the disease or related topics. Every website is required to have a big banner with a link to more information. People are starting to worry about job losses and the economy. The memes get darker and closer to racist. On social media people are taking bigger risks in terms of personal privacy, doing a variety of quizzes that sometimes reveal sensitive information about the quizzed.

Armchair intellectuals are having long winded opinions about this or that and there’s a whole branch of conspiracy theories so wild they should be tamed by a bunch of cowboys on horseback.

I don’t have the energy to read more news, see more stats of sick people and people who died. I don’t have the heart to read about family members who couldn’t be with loved ones in their final hours. I am just sad. Sad about so many people who’s lives have been affected. Sad that the poor and vulnerable will possibly be the hardest hit by this, again. Sad that many people will not know if they will have good next month, or whether they will live the month after.

These things and the reality of the isolation is hard to bear and while I struggle some days, I realise that the world struggles everywhere and its likely that there is a whole group of people spread out over the globe experiencing the same concerns. The best we can go is to do our bit and stay at home and wash our hands.

Be kind. Stay safe

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 20

It was a lovely spring day, sunny, and as far as I could tell, not windy.

I spent a few hours on my balcony enjoying my flowers and doing some water colours, while my neighbours who have gardens practiced home workouts and probably overheard my eclectic music collection. Nobody threw rotten vegetables at me, so I am guessing they didn’t mind too much.

The creative trend for the day continued while I did some music practice, finished up some knitting work and started on my secret project that I am super excited about. I even got a few really great ideas that might help me connect better with my loved ones far away!

While I’m doing a lot of things that I love and enjoy, I know this is not a holiday. I constantly think about the effects on the world and especially the must vulnerable members of society. My heart breaks when I realise that just doing basic normal things like getting water puts them at risk, because hundreds of people use the same tap. My heart breaks even more when I realise how unjust the world is that allows that situation to exist in the first place. So when I escape into creativity, it is not because I am celebrating my free time, but really because I need an outlet before it all overwhelms me.

So, proactively, what can I do? Here’s what I do: I stay at home as far as possible, to flatten the curve. I try to eat healthy balanced and tasty meals to keep strong and healthy. I try tu check in with friends regularly to see if they need anything, and guard against spreading the fake news and conspiracy theories. Rather be responsible, consider others in public spaces and be nice to the staff who are putting their health on the line for their country.

Whatever you do, please be kind – keep safe

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 19

It’s the weekend! It feels like this week flew by in meetings and to-do lists. Finally we make it to Friday night and time for drinks with colleagues, but online on a video call!

While the majority of the world population is stuck at home, doing their bit to save humanity , a whole new world of virtual tours have opened up.

A colleague sent me this wonderful link to tours of the Rijksmuseum, so if you ever wanted to see the Nights Watch in high definition, this is your chance!

Rijksmuseum

And if you’d rather get outdoors and go on a safari, check this out!

Virtual Safari

If you have visited these or know of any others, please share with me and the world!

Be kind. Keep safe

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 18

I didn’t sleep well. I think I got preoccupied about whether or not I had some of the symptoms of COVID-19 and that formed the basis for a bunch of turbulent dreams. Luckily I can’t remember anything, other than I woke up in the small hours feeling unsettled.

I find that social distancing is getting to me. It is weird and lonely and I have to make a conscious decision not to eat all the snacks in the history of snacks. I am thankful that I have a few hobbies to have a creative outlet and I notice that I do a lot more of it than before. It helps that I spend more time at home of course, but also I think I make an effort to do something that makes me happy.

Today I had another online music lesson for guitar and it really just lifted my spirit. Its incredible to learn something new, and music has the ability to spirit you away to a different world where there isn’t a global health crisis going on. For a little while I can think only about the music and the possibility to make beautiful sounds. When we get to the other end of this, I will be able to rock this thing, way more than I thought I would, at any rate.

In the middle of the night I also thought up another creative idea, but I am going to keep you guessing on that for a while….

Be kind. Stay safe

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 17

Today is April fools day, but it is no laughing matter. I can no longer tell you if something happened yesterday or Friday two weeks ago. Its just one big blur of time. Get up, get dressed, sit in front of a screen. Go to bed. Repeat.

Work carries on at a crazy pace, I am more occupied now than ever before. Some days it feels like I have back to back meetings, or death by teleconference as I started to call it. There are definitely more video chats now that used to be just small catch ups with colleagues. Maybe it is also that work is in a phase of what would always have been a busy time. Either way, I am thankful for the opportunity to work and to be able to do it from the safety of my home office/living room.

Some days like today I feel like I want to wrap myself in a blanket and watch Gilmore Girls all day, but unfortunately I cannot eat as much junk food as they do and stay in such good shape. Not that I have ever been in that good shape. I worry about the world we live in. I worry about how it will look when this is all over. I worry about my home country and what will happen in the weeks to come.

However, when the going gets tough the tough goes out into the sunshine to buy the essentials. The sun will come out tomorrow, and the day after that, and the one after that, and maybe one day the sun will rise and the world will be a bit healthier.

Be kind. Stay safe.

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 16

Today we celebrated my niece’s 10th birthday. I got to phone her on a video call to wish her happy birthday, and I’m still amazed how small the world has become.

In the 10 years since she was born, the world transformed, and we have things in existence we couldn’t even imagine back then. And with this, who knows what new changes the future will bring?

Someone asked me today what defines this as serious. I see massive numbers of infected people, recovered people, and people who passed on. I get saddened by the fact that each one of these people have a life, a family, friends, that are somehow affected by this.

When I see the news reports I am reminded that a crisis like this brings out the worst in people, and sometimes the best in people too. I hope we learn to find and keep our kindness, our soul, and our Ubuntu in the days and years to come.

Be kind. Stay safe

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 15

Every day I get more thankful for the freedom to walk outside and enjoy the parks around. Amsterdam has some pretty incredible parks and it is a treat to see it come to light as the seasons change.

This time of isolation is turning into a time of reflection for a lot of people. We are forced to stay home with our thoughts and dreams and we have an opportunity to reach out and make them a reality, or let them go if needs be. While we are in the throngs of this, we have no idea what the world is going to look like in a few months time but hopefully a new normal will be established and be a little prettier and a little more hopeful&hopeful than before.

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 14

One of the small pleasures I have in this time of uncertainty is to take a walk in nature. This is not the case in many countries at time moment and I think this freedom can be revoked at any time. But until then, I will take the necessary precautions, stay in spaces that aren’t full of people and keep 1,5m distance from others.

The forest walk was a good as it sounds. It is good for the body and soul to connect with nature, take in the trees and sky and everything in between. It reminds me that we are part of a bigger story. Hundreds of years ago people also walked through the forest and hopefully they will do so in years to come. The same trees will be there, or their descendents,changing with the seasons in an eternal cycle of growth and rest. Life and decay.

In years to come we will look back at this time and only time will tell if we used it for growth or decay.

Until then, I will enjoy the spring in Europe with all the fresh flowers it has to offer

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 13

It’s the second weekend since we’ve been told TK stay at home over here in the Netherlands.

People from all over are reaching out and I enjoy hearing from everyone. I am always happy to hear how they are doing in this unusual time, what keeps them busy and that they agree healthy.

A number of people are picking up new hobbies or recomitting to old ones. I have friends working on their drawing skills, knitting, music or home workout routine. Some friends are delving deeper into their meditation or yoga practice and others are reading all those books that they’ve been meaning to read.

I heard a few people mention they are so bored they are cleaning their houses. I would like to state very clearly that I clean because I have to and like a clean house, but I am not that bored yet! I finally have the opportunity to do those projects I always wanted to, and still I have a list. What are on your list?

From my social media feed it is clear that many people are discovering or rediscovering the art of cooking and I speak for myself when I say I enjoy it. That is, I enjoy preparing and eating some nice meals, even healthy ones. Similarly I love seeing other people’s journey with their kitchen skills. Do share with me your favourite new meal or cooking tip.

This time of isolation is made so much more bearable because we live in a digital world. Not only can I continue to work with little interruption, but I can also interact with my friends and family via digital channels. In the week I had a video guitar lesson and today we had a video conference call with the family in 4 different households over 2 different continents and 3 different cities!

Every day we are flooded with information, news, facts and figures about how this virus is affecting people and the economy worldwide. I am sad when I realise that the people who are the most vulnerable due to poverty are probably the most vulnerable now, and I realise that behind every statistic is a person. Someone’s child or parent or sibling or spouse or friend. It is heartbreaking to think of all the hardship and the business that might not survive this period. In hr interest it the most vulnerable, we need to do our part and stay at home.

Be kind. Stay safe

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 12

Today marks the end of the second work week of working from home. It’s nearly a new normal.

I arranged to get the last bit of IT equipment and importantly, an office chair, so now my home office set up is as well developed as at the actual office. It’s just as well because we’ll probably be doing this for a while.

I look forward to a weekend of not looking at a screen.

Be kind. Stay safe