A time to be still and to self-heal
As we move towards an awakening in a post-pandemic world and try to make sense of the past 19 months, a pause for contemplation and possible redirection seems necessary.
One lesson has been to be able to adopt an existential view towards things once taken for granted that have all but disappeared during lockdown.
The pandemic lockdown has also afforded the time to pause and reflect on the weighted importance of one’s values and priorities.
I, for one, am truly grateful for time at home and at leisure; time for learning; time to connect and to give back to people and things that really matter.
I have never spent as much time at home as I have these past 19 months and I recall, during my busiest pre-lockdown days, longing for times when I could get out of bed late (or not at all!), read as many books as I wished, have more quality time with family, try all sorts of fitness classes… essentially just wishing for the luxury of some “downtime” to be still and to self-heal.
Working from home, while viewed as a mixed blessing, seems to have been the answer to this wish.
These past 19 months have gifted me with time and opportunities that I would otherwise not have had — from time for attention to home and with immediate family, to leisure time for on-demand workout routines.
Toggling between work commitments, WFH has afforded me ample time and the energy and motivation to enhance learning and expand perspectives for the work I do at the Lopez Museum and Library, the Lopez Group Foundation, and at my personal passion project, ArteFino.
The world of virtual learning courses opened a myriad of wonderful opportunities.
So many relatively accessible platforms and avenues for one to learn and keep oneself active, engaged, relevant, and current.
Perhaps the idea of being bound to within the walls of my home and longing for stimulus, in some way, contributes to a newfound excitement towards learning.
I find myself looking forward to each upskilling session with eagerness and enthusiasm, whether it be courses in the fields of sustainability, regenerative action, social impact investing or gender lens focus (subjects that a pre-pandemic version of me would not have had the time to process).
Courses such as these have proven vital tools for reskilling and enabling oneself to prepare a work ecosystem for the brave new world that lies ahead.
Life, indeed, continues to surprise with its unexpected twists and turns.
As Jo Ann Mercurio said: “When life gives you lemons… add vodka!”
To that, I add: live with, and make the best of, the moment!
