In this episode I talk about the last 4 years and the challenges of the pandemic and other tough things that happened during this time - and how challenges can make us stronger and more resilient.
Great job, Caitlin! I enjoyed listening to this and thinking about the themes that you bring up through it. The first thing I want to mention is your premonition when you were writing your book. I also felt before the pandemic happened that something big was going on behind the scenes and I felt like the shoe was going to drop at any moment. What we were doing was not sustainable as a society and it took a corrective turn to slow us down. We were going way too fast.
Even prior to the pandemic I felt like I was languishing but I didn't realize it until going through the pandemic. I was just living my life in the most ho-hum way not seeing wonder or awe and just trying to get through the day.
I loved the value of you recognizing that some days getting out of bed was the accomplishment. For me that was especially true as I was going through a medical crisis during the height of the pandemic.
And you're right that I'm not bouncing back I'm bouncing forward. It's hard work to shed my prior beliefs about myself and my abilities but I know I'm going in the right direction. It does feel like science fiction at times!
Keep up the great job! And holy smokes 120! I like it hot but come on... geesh. Where I am in the midwest it's gotten as cold as -18. What a range the weather can do.
Thanks so much for listening, Shelby! :) glad you enjoyed it. And yes, i totally agree that what we were doing as a society/the planet was not sustainable, so the pandemic was a (harsh) reset for the entire world, really. It's like - we weren't listening, so the environment was like 'okay maybe they'll listen to THIS'. And I was totally languishing too, before the pandemic. Life was just...lifeing and stagnant, so the pandemic was literally a wake up call (albeit a super stressful, scary and sad wake up call!). And that 'heat dome' we experienced here in the Pacific Northwest was crazy. So many people (here in Vancouver anyway) died - mostly elderly people in small apartments with no air conditioning (AC never used to be big here because it never used to get overly hot in the summer! When I was growing up, the average summer temps were 25C/77F, but now it regularly gets up to 36C/96.8F - but never has reached 42C/107F (here in Vancouver anyway, right by the Pacific Ocean)
Thanks for sharing Caitlin. I listened in part (had to hear you and your accent!) and then read the remainder. It is ONLY 4 years but counting this year it's getting close to 5. I remember the first news events in January 2020 being shown about a 'virus' from China...and in Australia, we are typically
'on holidays then' as it summer, and schools/unis etc are closed so not much notice was taken until end January. My memories from the start of the pandemic here are from early March 2020 when suddenly there was a need to bring on restrictions of travel and much more. As an island/continent it was said Australia had a somewhat easier time with borders. My big memories around Covid 19 are ones of family being isolated..we all lived in different parts of New South Wales and Sydney, children not able to attend/start school, and teachers/parents needing to do 'school at home'. Our daughter was one such mum/teacher - qualified teacher overseeing her class' work and that of her child at home. My then 97 yo Dad feeling vulnerable and isolated but doing everything right. And of course access to medical and surgical care for us was there but very restrictive. Lots more memories flooding back but grateful to now have 7 covid vaccines inside and "one" dose of covid late last year. And Dad lived to over 100 and no covid!! Denyse x
Hi Denyse. Thanks for listening (a bit! :) ). Wow I'm glad your dad lived to 100 and never got Covid! My husband and I got covid a year or 2 ago in June. Yes March 2020 was when restrictions and lockdowns started here. That must have been challenging for your daughter as a teacher and mom to do teaching and schooling her child all from home!
Our medical care was restricted top. My aunt got cancer and passed away from it during those early days of covid so I never got to say goodbye to her in person due to hospital restrictions...just had a few Zoom conversations, which is better than nothing at all, I guess. But still, difficult to go through. my grandma also passed away (at 95!) during the first year of covid so I also wasn't able to visit her in hospital before she passed either. 😞 at least times have changed now!
True! It's good to look back and recall the grief that was caused by Covid & its restrictions too. It surprises me that not enough is written BUT am currently listening to books by US Author Elizabeth Strout & she has the pandemic woven in & out of a few!
Great job, Caitlin! I enjoyed listening to this and thinking about the themes that you bring up through it. The first thing I want to mention is your premonition when you were writing your book. I also felt before the pandemic happened that something big was going on behind the scenes and I felt like the shoe was going to drop at any moment. What we were doing was not sustainable as a society and it took a corrective turn to slow us down. We were going way too fast.
Even prior to the pandemic I felt like I was languishing but I didn't realize it until going through the pandemic. I was just living my life in the most ho-hum way not seeing wonder or awe and just trying to get through the day.
I loved the value of you recognizing that some days getting out of bed was the accomplishment. For me that was especially true as I was going through a medical crisis during the height of the pandemic.
And you're right that I'm not bouncing back I'm bouncing forward. It's hard work to shed my prior beliefs about myself and my abilities but I know I'm going in the right direction. It does feel like science fiction at times!
Keep up the great job! And holy smokes 120! I like it hot but come on... geesh. Where I am in the midwest it's gotten as cold as -18. What a range the weather can do.
Thanks so much for listening, Shelby! :) glad you enjoyed it. And yes, i totally agree that what we were doing as a society/the planet was not sustainable, so the pandemic was a (harsh) reset for the entire world, really. It's like - we weren't listening, so the environment was like 'okay maybe they'll listen to THIS'. And I was totally languishing too, before the pandemic. Life was just...lifeing and stagnant, so the pandemic was literally a wake up call (albeit a super stressful, scary and sad wake up call!). And that 'heat dome' we experienced here in the Pacific Northwest was crazy. So many people (here in Vancouver anyway) died - mostly elderly people in small apartments with no air conditioning (AC never used to be big here because it never used to get overly hot in the summer! When I was growing up, the average summer temps were 25C/77F, but now it regularly gets up to 36C/96.8F - but never has reached 42C/107F (here in Vancouver anyway, right by the Pacific Ocean)
Thanks for sharing Caitlin. I listened in part (had to hear you and your accent!) and then read the remainder. It is ONLY 4 years but counting this year it's getting close to 5. I remember the first news events in January 2020 being shown about a 'virus' from China...and in Australia, we are typically
'on holidays then' as it summer, and schools/unis etc are closed so not much notice was taken until end January. My memories from the start of the pandemic here are from early March 2020 when suddenly there was a need to bring on restrictions of travel and much more. As an island/continent it was said Australia had a somewhat easier time with borders. My big memories around Covid 19 are ones of family being isolated..we all lived in different parts of New South Wales and Sydney, children not able to attend/start school, and teachers/parents needing to do 'school at home'. Our daughter was one such mum/teacher - qualified teacher overseeing her class' work and that of her child at home. My then 97 yo Dad feeling vulnerable and isolated but doing everything right. And of course access to medical and surgical care for us was there but very restrictive. Lots more memories flooding back but grateful to now have 7 covid vaccines inside and "one" dose of covid late last year. And Dad lived to over 100 and no covid!! Denyse x
Hi Denyse. Thanks for listening (a bit! :) ). Wow I'm glad your dad lived to 100 and never got Covid! My husband and I got covid a year or 2 ago in June. Yes March 2020 was when restrictions and lockdowns started here. That must have been challenging for your daughter as a teacher and mom to do teaching and schooling her child all from home!
Our medical care was restricted top. My aunt got cancer and passed away from it during those early days of covid so I never got to say goodbye to her in person due to hospital restrictions...just had a few Zoom conversations, which is better than nothing at all, I guess. But still, difficult to go through. my grandma also passed away (at 95!) during the first year of covid so I also wasn't able to visit her in hospital before she passed either. 😞 at least times have changed now!
True! It's good to look back and recall the grief that was caused by Covid & its restrictions too. It surprises me that not enough is written BUT am currently listening to books by US Author Elizabeth Strout & she has the pandemic woven in & out of a few!