The Homebound Life: My Favorite Things
Although I’m a freelancer and work from home, and did so before COVID-19, work definitely has slowed down due to the pandemic. Like many others, I’m finding myself at home with more time on my hands since… I can remember. I have decided to be positive and embrace all the things that I love about the situation of being homebound.
Discovering video chatting – I learned how to video chat and watched my best friend’s granddaughter play the ukulele. She just turned nine years old and had the cutest smile on her face as she proudly strummed and sang along. I also “went to church” online with my daughter who lives two states away from me – something I never would have thought possible.
Rediscovering phone calls – I’ll admit it. I’ve been almost exclusively a texter for the past 15 years or so. I’ve been busy and all of the people who I communicate with have been busy as well. Now that things have changed for so many of us, I’ve had many great telephone conversations with my daughters, my mother-in-law, and my best friends. Hearing their voices on the other end of the phone has been joyful and reassuring.
Embracing the art of old-fashioned letter writing – For the first time in decades, I wrote a handwritten letter. It was to an old friend of the family and it felt like I was doing something very unusual and quaint, like I should be using a quill. It felt good. I also sent a notecard with a handwritten note and I’m answering the call to any and all pleas on Facebook for kids to receive birthday cards through the mail. I know these parents are struggling to make their children’s birthdays special since they can’t throw typical birthday parties right now.
Reading more books – I have them in hardback, in paperback, on Kindle, and on Libby. I like both physical and digital formats. I love both text and audio. I’ve traveled to Gilead in The Testaments by Margaret Atwood. I have learned the secrets of the Marsh Girl in Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I witnessed the trials and tribulations of a British family opening up a glamping business in My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella. I’m currently listening to the many adventures of one little, black dress via the audiobook Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L. Rosen.
Organizing my home office – Our youngest moved out of our home over a year ago. I made her bedroom into my home office and it was supposed to have this cool, calm, boho vibe. But it didn’t… because of the clutter. There was always a reason to not get to it. Well, I finally ran out of reasons and got down to work. I now have the hip yet serene home office of my dreams.
I recognize that stay home restrictions mean different things to different people, and for some it means they’re busier than ever. For me, it’s given me the gift of time and I’ll take it. Life will be gloriously busy and chaotic again one day, but until that happens, I’m going to appreciate these sweet extra moments.
Writer: Lisa Kidwell
Lisa Kidwell is a freelance writer, a Goodwill fashionista, and the detail-oriented whiz behind Precisely Write Transcription & Administrative Services.