The Pandemic Strengthened Me

This week one of my co-workers sprained her ankle. Normally, that wouldn’t be a big deal-these things happen. This is the fault of the pandemic though (we can blame everything on the pandemic right?) Pre-pandemic she wore high-heals every day and so her ankles were used to wearing heals. During the pandemic though, she wore nothing but slippers and flip flops, so when she went back to high heals this week her ankle muscles weren’t ready to support the new strain… and she spraigned her ankle.

We both laughed, but it got me thinking, the pandemic strengthened some muscles that we hadn’t used in a while and others atrophied. As my wife and I talked about this last night she asked me what I strengthened during the pandemic.

1. Flexibility- we learned to roll with it. Things changed from work schedules and locations, to regulations, to family get-togethers. At one point early in the pandemic, when I had to communicate plans to our community, I was literally writing two emails in anticipation of every move the Health Department would make. I had to be ready to respond, and be flexible with whatever came.
2. Not be disappointed-part of the flexibility was learning to not be disappointed when things changed or were cancelled. Things were changing so rapidly that plans made at 8:00 in the morning were often different by 8:00 in the evening, and we had to learn to emotionally be OK with the change. We had to learn how to deal with the disappointment, and not let it drag us down. It took me a few months to get this one right. I mourned the loss of a summer vacation. I was frustrated when we lost our summer concert season, especially when the Harry Styles concert was postponed. By the time we got to the fall, I had learned not to hold on too tightly.
3. Being purposeful about connecting with people. I would take a walk every day (OK… many days) and I had a long list of people that I wanted to call. So as I was leaving the house I’d decide who I would call and most days people picked up and I got to chat with friends. Some people I hadn’t talked to in years, and it was amazing to reconnect. Near the end of the pandemic I read an article that said two of the best things for emotional health were exercise and connection. The walk and talk were some amazingly healing and refreshing times.

Those are some of the muscles that got strengthened during Covid, but there were some others that atrophied.

1. Being around people right now is odd. I am way more tired after being around people. I think my Covid-guard is still up, so when I see people I’m still trying to figure out how all of this works. I don’t know if I need to shake hands, hug, cross my arms, give knuckles, elbows or what. A few weeks back I met somebody who greeted me with an elbow-OK that’s cool. He then proceeded to be a close talker, and was what felt like inches from my face… really? You want to elbow greet me, but then talk in my face for 15 minutes? I am having to relearn social protocols. Do I hand out a business card? Do I shake hands? Do I wave from across the room. That muscle needs to be figured out and strengthened.
2. Meeting new people. I haven’t met new people in over a year. I really strengthened relationships with a limited group of people since March 2020, but I don’t think I hardly met a new person, and certainly not face to face. I really got to liking my people, but I need to get back in the mode of meeting new people and building some new relationships.
3. Keep investing in the relationships that were strengthened during Covid. Now that life is busy again, how do I continue to invest in those relationships that were strengthened? I am trying to be purposeful about making phone calls, having those people over to the house and making sure we stay connected. So much was built over the last 18 months, I want to make sure those relationships stay strong.

As we move into post-Covid, I have to take with me some of the learning-stay flexible, roll with it, hold things loosely and continue to cultivate friendships. At the same time there’s some old muscles that need strengthening again. I have to step into the gym of life and strengthen some old habits that have atrophied.

What habits or attitudes strengthened for you during Covid? What do you need to strengthen as we enter into post-pandemic life?