Shared by Parishioners, March 2021

A year of living home by myself, hiding from the virus with no visitors and no place to go, has made me realize how much I miss my wife, who left this world 8 years ago.

This year has made me realize how quickly someone can go from being well to dying.

I learned that it is good to be bold in the face of a crisis.

I am grateful to live in a neighborhood where people know each other because during this time of social isolation, I can meet and talk with neighbors every day when I walk my dog.

Don’t lose what is important in the busy-ness of life. Take time for the important stuff.

I am both stronger and weaker than I realized.

I think one of the most significant is that I am relatively independent because of my wide range interests and my ongoing interest in education.

The one significant thing I realized this year is through almost daily zoom activities via both my UU churches was how important the role of Unitarian Universalist communities are central to my life. Our support and love for one another grounded my pandemic world.

Had to quit my job because of the mask wearing. I didn’t realize how much I relied on reading lips before.

Not seeing other people, unless almost completely covered, has allowed me to shuck off my “shoulds” inferred from those around me and to learn more about my own core values, including less worry about my appearance and more access to my own anger.

I don’t understand people.

The importance of ritual and social connection to maintaining my mental health.

I have discovered that working from home isn’t as bad as I thought it would be (I still don’t like it).

I am surviving the pandemic reasonably well. 1) walks with friends, 2) continuing to work virtually 3) virtual contact with friends, 4) high tolerance for risks such that my isolation was limited, and 5) my cat.

If you build a roaring outside fire, family and friends will come.

I have become very, very forgiving of humans and their mistakes, and very, very intolerant of corporations and their abuses.

Amazed I was able to be physically alone for an extended period and content.  Perhaps knowing the rest of the “world” was doing the same thing? Perhaps knowing there was nothing “out there” I was missing?

That work is secondary to everything else – family, health, life; and that being outdoors in all weather is critical to my positive attitude and mental health!

Reading is fun-damental.

That, despite complete lack of structure, I know how to spend my days engaged and entertained — thinking up neat projects and seeing them through.

I’m more patient than I thought I was – a good discovery.

I enjoy the art of shucking my own oysters.

I love teaching on Zoom!

I have learned that I can spend quiet moments alone in unscheduled time in reflection on all manner of things, to allow the monkey mind its hops and pause to consider the places it goes.