Kirstie David is a Literacy and Outreach Librarian at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood, MA. Look for her article in the April 23, 2020 edition of the Transcript & Bulletin.
The wisdom limned in the biblical book of Ecclesiastes – “To
everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven” – is common
enough to be known outside of religious circles. Through the thousands of years
that mankind has been engaged in agriculture, we understand that there is a
time when we plant seeds, a time to harvest, and even a time when the ground is
resting, fallow.
Nobody I know put the precept of a time for every purpose into
practice more than my mother. She was a science teacher and was deeply dedicated
to the job. During the school year she would often follow a full day of classes
by offering after-school help, then grade homework, tests and lab reports in
the evenings. Yet she was also an outdoor person at heart who delighted in
summer breaks when she could work in the yard, cultivating her own wonderland
of florae. On rainy days when we were stuck indoors she made good use of her
time, bustling around the house and getting chores done. All the while she’d
cast glances out the window, waiting for her chance to resume playing in the
dirt. If just one fraction of the gloom lifted, she would take notice of it and
utter a favorite and oft-used phrase: “Looks like it’s brightening up out
there.” This habit said a lot about her. She was the type of person perpetually
waiting for things to get better so that she could celebrate that circumstance
and share it with others.
While I haven’t yet achieved my mother’s level of optimism or
productivity I keep after it, even now. The midst of a pandemic might seem like
a counterintuitive time to look on the bright side. We’re isolating ourselves
from others, donning masks and gloves to go to the market, wondering about the
availability of basic supplies like toilet paper and holding our collective
breath to see just how bad the repercussions of COVID-19 will be. There is a
lot to endure. Yet focusing time and energy on the negative aspects of our
current situation doesn’t help. So why not put this seemingly fallow time to use?
In a world that’s been turned upside down, couldn’t we also turn on its head
the notion that seasons of growth and stillness are separate? We might feel
limited right now, but it could also be viewed as a time of opportunity.
For my part, I’m trying to balance some of the adversity of this time
with positive changes. Working from home has been a challenge, complete with
mastering new technology to tackle tasks remotely while we try to create a
virtual library to tide people over. Yet it has also imparted new insight about
workflow processes, and encouraged me to explore online resources and learning
opportunities that I hope will increase the knowledge I have to offer patrons. With
the closure of nonessential businesses in March I realized how much time I
wasted browsing, but not buying, in stores. Instead of taking that bad habit
online, I’m using the time to chip away at projects on my to-do list. During
this imposed renaissance of home-cooked meals, and in spite of the extra work
and dishes, I’m reminded how much I like cooking and baking. It has been like
encountering an old friend and having such fun you’re not sure why you fell out
of touch. On the topic of reconnecting, I’m meeting weekly for a video chat
with a group of college friends scattered from LA to the UK; I’ve also spent
hours on the phone with loved ones. Daily walks help keep my spirits up and my
weight down. I don’t know that these habits will survive our return to
normality, but I hope so. They’re serving me well.
While we are stuck at home, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with
binge-watching a few worthy shows. I’ve dabbled in a bit of that, myself. Yet
there’s only so much TV I can watch. I also understand that a lot of people are
pressed for time, working from home while parenting kids out of school, and are
more likely to be looking for a nap than a self-improvement project. They might
be better served by the short but sweet task of practicing gratitude. Why not
take a minute to notice the things, however small, that make you happy – and
then be grateful for them? I am no longer surprised to find that every day I’m
thankful for something. In a time of huge uncertainty, it’s funny how tiny joys
have taken on a magnified importance for me. I try to relish those moments I
feel positive; they help offset the inevitable dismay brought on by the news. Much
of my recent happiness is related to the weather, partly because of its impact
on my daily walks. I’m grateful for a bright sunny day when I can walk the
quiet streets around my house listening to the cheerful chatter of birds, and
for feeling not so alone when I exchange waves and greetings with fellow
walkers even as we cross the street away from each other to comply with
distancing. If the day is dreary (and many of them have been) I cast frequent glances
out the window watching the sky for signs of improvement, for the slightest
lifting of gloom so that I, too, can observe, “It looks like it’s brightening
up out there.”
Those interested in virtual resources for personal growth or
entertainment will be delighted to hear that the library is launching a new
suite of digital content including Acorn (British Film & TV), Learn it Live
and The Great Courses. Among many others, The Great Courses features subjects such
as baking, cooking, yoga, tai chi, mindfulness, birding, and even dog training.
Visit the library website and check them out!
