Groundhog Day in Quarantine
Week 4 of quarantine - is that right? I’ve lost track of time. I have no idea what day it is anymore. It’s like Groundhog Day in Quarantine. Have you seen Jimmy Fallon’s The Longest Days of Our Lives? It’s hilarious.
How are you doing these days?
Still a hard one to answer.
I had a big revelation this past week. I listened to Cheryl Strayed’s new podcast, Sugar Calling. In her first episode, she calls her old friend and former professor, George Saunders, who teaches writing at Syracuse. They talk about how they’re doing. George reads a letter that he sent to his students. In this letter, he tells them how history is told and remembered by the writers who kept record of their experiences. Those are the voices we hear. He recommended that they bear witness to their own experience right now: what is happening, what are they feeling, what are they going through, what are they noticing about themselves and about the world? In 20, 30...50 years, what will they tell their grandkids about this time?
It struck me. He’s right. Why NOT listen to my own voice and take note of my own experience? God knows I'm feeling and noticing a lot. When there’s so little we can "do" these days, this provides me with a creative outlet. This moment feels too important not to document, if only for myself. So I started this daily journal called Letters to Myself During COVID Quarantine. They’re short and all start with Dear Me. Some are hilarious. Some are delirious. Some are sad. But they’re all mine, and I write every day.
There is so much I’m noticing. Small example: I’m noticing a lot about my plants. For YEARS, I’ve had this purple plant on my windowsill which gets direct sunlight nearly all day. Yet it wouldn’t thrive. The leaves would get crisp and the color would remain opaque. I couldn’t figure it out - not that I really tried. During quarantine, since I’m looking at my plants EVERY SINGLE DAY ALL DAY LONG, I decided to finally learn what the hell kind of plant it is in the first place (via Google Lens). I then downloaded an app (Planta), which instructs me on how to care for my plants. Apparently, this plant HATES direct sunlight! I’d been burning the poor thing. I felt so bad. I immediately moved it to another part of the room and voilà! It’s now thriving and its leaves are vibrant purple!
I could share a million more stories like these. My point: bear witness to your own experience during this time. Write stories, journal, paint, create music - whatever calls you.
I’ve found the practices below to be powerful in increasing awareness and presence, which can help you bear witness to your own experience.
Practice 1: Sit Spot
A sit spot is a favorite place in nature to connect, observe, and study life. It’s an ancient Native American practice that cultivates awareness, quiets your mind, and expands your senses. I learned this from Boyd Varty - Lion Tracker, Storyteller, and Life Guide.
Find a spot and go sit for at least 15 minutes every day (without a phone or anything to distract you). Observe everything: animals, trees, plants, sky, grass, birds, colors, weather. If you can’t go outside, then sit by your window and look outside.
Many people describe the sit spot experience like a waking up because it gently coaxes your senses to function at a higher level. Over time, you begin to observe changes that occur with the inhabitants of your spot, how they interact, the rhythms and routines they keep, where new events come into play.
A sit spot can become like an anchor in your life, which many of us need right now. Over time, you’ll notice how this increased sense of awareness seeps into everyday life.
Practice 2: Daily Examen
The daily examen was developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola. It’s a powerful technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect Divine presence and discern its direction for you. It comes from the Spiritual Exercises, which are believed to have influenced the 12 steps of AA. For centuries, these Exercises were given as a “long retreat” of 30 days in solitude and silence. We can do a version of this during quarantine.
In simple terms:
Become aware of Divine presence
Review the day with gratitude
Pay attention to your emotions
Choose one feature of the day and pray from it
Look towards tomorrow
To expand:
1. Become aware of Divine presence
Begin with a pause and a slow, deep breath. Become aware that you are in the presence of the Holy.
2. Review the day with gratitude
What are you especially grateful for in the past day...
The love and support you have received...
The courage you have mustered...
An event that took place today...
3. Pay attention to your emotions
Where have you felt true joy today?
What has troubled you today?
Does a feeling of frustration mean that perhaps you should consider a new direction in your work?
Are you concerned about a friend? Perhaps you should reach out.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it
Ask Spirit to direct you to something during the day that is of particular importance. It may involve a feeling, positive or negative. It may be a vivid moment of sadness, pleasure, or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart— whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.
5. Look Ahead
As you look ahead, what comes to mind?
With what spirit do you want to enter tomorrow?
Ask to be given light for tomorrow’s challenges. Seek guidance. Ask for help and understanding. Pray for hope.
If you choose to do any of these, I’d love to hear about it. I hope you’re doing OK.
Wishing you and your loved ones health and safety during these times. May you be protected.