These are strange times we are in. I appreciate what my friend Mariel Buckley just said while she streamed some songs today and that was she encouraged us to ‘Marinate in the weirdness’. I thought that was pretty great advice, because really – of all the options we have right now, it’s one of the best ones.
“Marinate in the weirdness”
Mariel Buckley
It’s hard not to think about what we would be doing if we weren’t all home, self-isolating. I actually hadn’t thought about it in specific terms in a while, until I looked at my calendar to count the days of isolation. I was supposed to be flying to Ontario today, staying with my friend Corin Raymond in Hamilton, getting ready to do a Psychiatry elective at Six Nations.
I know so many of us are in this weird place of wondering if and when the things we had planned for the near term will be rescheduled, can be rescheduled. We wonder what options will be available to us when we come out the other side of this. I think many of us find ourselves in this situation, one we never could have imagined ourselves being in. It’s a time to learn who we are, who others are, and how we respond to a real crisis. Although it’s no real comparison, it reminds me of the time I got stuck in an elevator at Folk Alliance in Kansas City. My friend Melanie (aka Belle Plaine) and I were both in separate corners of that very crowded elevator when it stopped and then dropped. Thankfully, we weren’t in there very long but the range of behaviour we witnessed in those minutes reminds me of the range of responses I’m seeing during this pandemic.
As Joe Nolan just said while I was writing and catching his live stream, “I hope the world will be a different place when we come out of this, I hope we can make it better”. Although there are some who are reacting in the worst of ways (ahem: Donald Trump, Jason Kenney, Tyler Shandro), the ways we hope isn’t what actually represents humanity – we know those people are out there, some of them sadly weilding too much power. They shouldn’t be the ones we focus on. There is a tremendous amount of love and kindness being shared. I know I’ve personally taken this as a reminder of how quickly we can lose people we love. I’ve reached out to some people I haven’t been in contact with for a while and notice others doing the same. It feels good to reconnect, something I haven’t had a lot of time to do since I started medical school.
“I hope the world will be a different place when we come out of this, I hope we can make it better”
Joe Nolan
I came up with a list of ‘goals’ for myself each day while this carries on:
- Practice meditation or yoga everyday
- Try to learn something everyday
- Get some exercise
- Connect with someone (virtually of course)
- Read something for pleasure / listen to music
- Go easy on myself if I don’t get to everything on the list everyday & be grateful for the choice
What I’m grateful for most right now are these things:
- All the artists who are live streaming music and letting us into their homes, sharing their insights and songs, helping us through these strange times and to feel a sense of connection. As Derek Miller said, he realized in Indigenous communities all over the world that: Music is Medicine.
- People taking the time to connect / reconnect.
- Being in a safe place, having time to reflect and focus on what matters most in life.
- Having Joni (my fur baby to isolate with).
- All the healthcare workers and others on the front lines keeping us supplied with food and essential goods.
“Music is Medicine”
Derek Miller
It’s crazy to see what’s happening in other places in the world (especially the US). However, there’s some crazy S%*t happening in Alberta right now. I can’t believe we live in a place where the government is antagonizing doctors, destabilizing healthcare, tore up their contract, and cut their pay in the middle of a pandemic. This is just a small piece of the horrific behaviour this current government is engaged in so I will stop there, because the rant could go on forever.
So I’ll finish by saying: thank you, thank you, thank you!!! to all the artists brightening these days. A few favourites I’ve caught live streaming so far:
I’ve linked to their websites but Livestreams are through Facebook and/or Instagram.
Be well my friends, and stay home! Don’t be afraid to reach out if you want to talk, connect, have a virtual wine. I’ve started opening some of the bottles I’ve been holding onto, such as a 2005 Burgundy featured below.
p.s., I’m loving the 80s dance party fitness trend that’s happening (maybe more on that to come).
p.p.s., My heart goes out to all those who couldn’t or won’t be able to visit loved ones who are sick, including my cousins Nadine and Jennifer who just lost their mom a week ago
Alanna Martineau 