Practicing Social Distancing
Posted on Mar 24, 2020 by Shari Van Baale
It has only been about two weeks now since it began, though it seems like a lot longer. Before then, not many had heard of the term “social distancing.” Now it is a staple in our everyday lives.
Some of us may not have left our homes at all in the last couple of weeks, preferring to work from home and have everything delivered or do without.
Others haven’t changed their daily lives at all, still going to the store and work as if nothing has changed, except for the fact that you can’t go out to eat anymore. Everything is takeout only. These are the people that are complaining about what an inconvenience this all is, while relishing the easier commute to work.
For me, I am somewhere in the middle. I go to the store if I need something, but I don’t linger in the aisles. This has forced me to reflect on how our country took for granted the fact that we could go the store at pretty much any time (because stores were open 24 hours) and get virtually anything we wanted to. Now paper product aisles and canned good aisles are empty, and stores are open limited hours to let employees restock what they can. Even online retailers are unable to handle the influx of orders and have run out.
I am blessed to have a small workplace where exposure to others is limited, so I can still come into the office. I have had to cut my work hours slightly, as many of my tasks aren’t happening right now because there are no worship bulletins or events to promote at Salem. But this gives me the afternoons at home with my two teenage kids, even though they are usually in their rooms most of that time.
I have been slightly inconvenienced in having to move my daily workouts to home, though that gives my 13-year-old daughter the opportunity to join me sometimes.
I don’t really miss the restaurants being closed, as we never went out to eat much, anyway. Takeout is not for me; it is not worth spending $30-$40 to feed my family of four when I can’t enjoy the pleasure of having someone else serve me. I still have to serve it to my family and do the dishes, and if I am spending that much I might as well just cook it myself.
I am sure you have heard this a lot, but don’t waste this time you are spending at home. Use it to become closer to your family. Use it to pray more and spend more time in God’s Word. It has forced me to slow down, something that is often hard for me to do but desperately needed. When the kids are back in school and work has returned to normal, I hope I have some great stories to tell about 2020.
Shari Van Baale
Communications Coordinator