I like the word to glean: to learn, discover, or find out, usually little by little or slowly. While I am usually quick in actions and thoughts, I find that for life lessons I am a “ponderer” and gleaner. I discover things little by little, hold on to those idea nuggets and then mull them over much like a cow chewing her cud. I am a ruminator by nature.

I have been thinking about this virus now that we appear to be moving (slightly) out of it. What will be learned from it? What will we glean? What will we discover about ourselves, others and society?

Things that I have gleaned from this time and therefore would like to continue in the future:

1) Slowing down/non-rushed: In activities. In scheduling. In relationships. I really like the non-rushed feeling: I can sort out my thoughts and plans without feeling that a time bomb is looming over my head. What I will need to figure out is how to balance that feeling of time has no-consequence with the onslaught of responsibility that will happen as soon as things “open up”.

2) Reducing and reusing: With our shut-down of retail stores and the decrease in consumer spending, there has been the national necessity to reduce and reuse what one has. This has always been right up my alley- using things up and finding practical solutions to repurpose household items. While this idea is always on my mind, the virus time has validated and reconfirmed my commitment to live under my means.

3) Communicating more with family and friends: I have discovered long, deep conversations with people- neighbors, friends or even strangers. There is an overall sense of “we are all in this together” and that there is no pressing matter other than connecting with one another.

4) Expressing gratitude for each day: While I am grateful generally, this pandemic has heightened my awareness even more. It has shown that it is so important to think as well as speak about one’s gratitude every day- especially to the individuals for whom one is grateful.

I just pray that we hold these ideas in our hearts and that we ruminate on them- bring them up to ponder and to implement- every so often. Yet, knowing how forgetful humans are, we will most probably revert back to our fast-paced lifestyles. We will be slow at first but it won’t take too long before we are warp speed ahead for work and play. The following video clip you might have already seen. (Was texted it by a good friend.) It captures the idea of thinking about what will we glean (and possibly change) from our current experience?

Click here for The Great Realization

What about you? What things from this 2020 experience do you want to glean? To remember? To continue even when we are post-pandemic?