Six Positives After One Year of Lockdown

It has been a year.  A year of being at home. A year like no other.  I hinted at this in the anniversary post I published at the beginning of the month but after one year of lockdown there have been some positives.  True, I had moments of intense sadness – there have been a lot of tears a lot of frustration, and a whole host of other emotions.  These have come from every day situations and frustrations to bigger things like distance from family (with travel bans) and having to post-pone my wedding.  But today I want to look at things from a glass half full perspective and share with you three gains and three loses after one year of lockdown.

Gained a fiancé – this was a bright light in what many called a dark year.  From moving in together in March, to getting engaged in June, to spending the next seven months planning a wedding all of these were very happy things and love really is quite powerful.

Lost my way around London more than once on my many walks.  Would have never spent this much time outdoors It is not the best form of exercise -only a little over 200 calories an hour but if you go for a five hour walk, it adds up.

Gained closer relationships with friends and family in the States.  Even though I had been living abroad for nearly two years by the time March 2020 rolled around in retrospect I had not done as good of a job as I could have staying in touch with people.  True, busy lives and time zones make it difficult but on the other hand, you can make it work.

Lost – touch with fake friends .  I read something recently that said “we never lose friends. We simple learn who the real ones are.” Being at home and not being able to see people in the same way – with your true friends we had to make more of an effort.

Gained – more time with Mark (here) – learning and inordinate deal about each other – from feelings and preferences to weird household quirks – like preferences for folding laundry or temperature.

Gained a few skills in the kitchen and a slightly increased sliced tolerance. (My parents would be shocked to know I have cayenne, cumin, paprika, and many more spices in my pantry that I use regularly).  I have always been a fan of baking but since prior to last year I lived alone for seven years and cooking for one was never fun.

– – –

And  besides the diamond on my left had the other change that might be the most noticeable the one that might be the most noticeable:

Lost a great deal of weight. Now “great deal” in my mind is not an amount that is going to come close to those that win the biggest loser but enough that clothes don’t fit.  In the past 12 months I have lost 27 pounds or roughly 12 kilos.

How do you feel about one year of lockdown?