I just finished repotting a number of my house plants. I found bigger pots, some new soil, and began spreading out the roots of the pot bound plants. Then the plants went into their new homes. After watering them, I put them into spaces where they would get the most sun to help accelerate their ability to acclimate to their new environment. I wanted my plants to grow!
While I was accomplishing this, I thought about how this activity of repotting was relevant for myself. As a society, we are finally beginning to emerge from the Covid pandemic with the advent of vaccines. We are starting to contemplate what we might like to focus on next. Like seeds or plants that have been hibernating during the cold dark winter, we are starting to reach out and imagine a renewed life.
What are our dreams? What will this renewed life look like? Throughout this long year, we have experienced being rootbound – in insolation, feeling the emotional darkness of the daily death count, being restricted in who we could see, where we could travel, and what activities we could do. Personally, I felt as if my ability to grow were being squelched.
And yet, as the year progressed, I realized that new growth was occurring. Instead of being able to reach outside of myself into the larger world, I was able to go inward. I learned what was no longer agreeable in my life and found some new interests to explore. I came to know exactly who I could depend upon and who brought the most delight, intimacy, and comfort into my solitary existence. I acknowledged areas of personal strength and admitted to areas where I was less skilled. It’s been a long hibernation, and I am grateful that I was eventually able to acknowledge the benefits of the year amongst all the initially perceived negatives of this time period.
As I look around at what’s next, I can decide if I want a new environment. Many people are rethinking where they want to live, to work, to play. Perhaps a complete change of scenery would be beneficial or perhaps a clearing out of the existing space would be the best fit. I’ve been looking at my home with a discerning eye, noticing what I no longer use. I’ve changed the mattress on my bed, I’ve cleared out closet space by donating clothing, and I’m rearranging furniture and work spaces to better complement my needs.
Scheduling for my energy medicine business and movement classes went completely haywire during the pandemic, but I’ve realized that there is much more flexibility in my calendar than previously. I’ve also figured out that I want to offer different but related services that involve channeling and group classes. When my work goes “live” again, and I am able to see clients in person, I can still utilize the virtual methods I developed during isolation as a way of servicing my clients and students. In truth, I’ve gained, not lost, flexibility in managing my work life.
I have rearranged the way I use my time each day. I don’t want to book my days so completely as I did before the pandemic, and I want to prioritize my schedule differently. Working remotely has opened up a whole new approach to movement classes – my students can decide the most convenient time to participate in a class, and I can decide when I want to create the online class itself.
I’ve modified the way that I eat and nourish myself too, and I plan to continue with those changes. Some days I only eat one meal. Most days, I don’t have breakfast—I have brunch instead. I no longer enjoy the daily protein shake that I’ve imbibed religiously first thing in the morning for years. I’ve made the switch from raw sugar in my tea to locally produced honey. Because I didn’t go to any grocery stores in the last year and therefore couldn’t get items found only in those stores, I’ve learned to substitute and live easily without an item.
I’ve always loved reading books. At first, I missed the physical books themselves and the ability to go to the local library. I used to devour mysteries and visited my library weekly to indulge in my reading addiction. I pooh-poohed Kindles. However, not only have I discovered the convenience of getting books online, I’ve changed my reading habits as well. In the future, when I can finally travel again, I will pack my tidy Kindle in my luggage instead of worrying about the additional weight (and cost) of the many books that I like to take with me.
When I total up all of the seemingly insignificant changes that have occurred in my life over this past year, I see that I have been spreading my roots out. I’ve been finding new ways to nourish myself and make my life more meaningful. I’ve cultivated a more selective personal environment and fed and clothed myself in more personally satisfying ways. I’ve given myself more space and time to find what works best for me. I’ve weeded out objects, activities, and relationships that have lost relevance. I’ve begun to water and nourish new areas of interests, and I am doing my best to stand in the light of the sun.
