Let’s be real, 2020 has not been an easy year. If you have lost your job, your health, or your loved one, what I write about today may ring hollow. For that, I apologize.
On the other hand, if you have been able to keep your health, and your job (or your finances were secure in other ways), I hope you will join me in my reflections on the many things to be thankful for in 2020. Good things that happened despite the pandemic, or maybe, even, because of it.
The Virtual Life
Personally, I am not totally thrilled to the switch to the on-line life. I think we are biological creatures who should be with others in person: hugging, eating, just being with each other.
On the other hand, since in-person is the way to spread COVID-19, I am obviously happy to do more on-line.
Here are some things about the switch to virtual meetings in 2020 that I love:
- Telemedicine. I get to work from my home several days a week. That means: no commute, no shoes, no wait for the bathroom. Also, I can leave work on time–no last minute requests to sign these forms or check that EKG. There are drawbacks to seeing patients virtually, as I am learning as the pandemic rolls on; I think once the pandemic is over, we will have to be more discerning about what can be done online vs what really needs an in-person visit.
- Exercise classes via Zoom or FaceTime. Getting out of work on time makes it easier to work out, and going to class via the Internet means I can get to class faster. Again: no commute, no parking issues, no changing in the locker room. Of course, there are also some safety issues (no spotters).
- My regular weekend video meetings. Saturday morning and Sunday afternoons, I have regular meetings with 2 different groups of friends. With the miracle of the internet, I can even attend these meetings (for an abbreviated time) if I have to work in the hospital over the weekend.
- Family time. This afternoon my far-flung family will be meeting over Zoom from the comfort of our own home(s). We live in 4 different states, and the closest of us live a 4 hour drive from each other. My sister can really only get back and forth by plane. Today we can all visit with each other without the expense and hassle of traveling Thanksgiving week.
- More family time. My nephew and I have been able to play chess online perioidically–first via FaceTime, now via Chess.com. Without the Internet, it would not be possible to play so frequently.
- Opportunities to connect in other ways. Since meetings have to be online these days, I have had the chance to attend many more events. No worrying about going downtown, or travel time: I have been able to attend some religious services, mourn remotely with childhood friends, see the orchestra play. I might even tour some foreign museums this winter.
In the real world
- More time at home. Before the pandemic, sometimes I felt like I didn’t really live in my house. I was off to work early, and came back late. Days off might be spent out of the house, visiting friends, and vacations were meant for travel (to see family, or for tourism). Now I spend most days in the house. I walk in the neighborhood more, too, and get to see my neighbors.
- More time at home, part 2. Not only am I at home, but, let’s be honest, I’m working less. My patients prefer to see me in-person, and my telemedicine days aren’t crammed. This means that I have a little time to work on tidying up. My home isn’t picture-perfect by any means, but my office is much improved compared to February, and the living room is coming along. I have even inspired Mr. PiN to work on his office (the guest room), and the dining room.
- More time at home, part 3. I get to spend more time with Mr. PiN. Sometimes I feel awkward, when I have to cut our conversations short for an impending appointment; however, it has been so nice to see him more often. I worry less about relationship issues that could show up when I finally retire (whenever that may be). Actually, I have noted several times in this pandemic how grateful I am that I like my husband.
The Big Picture
One of the big “benefits” of 2020 has been realizing that I, personally, have been spared dealing with so many horrible things: a rapidly spreading pandemic with illness and death; systemic racial inequities all over our country; the oozing sore of economic disparity, which leaves hard working people in dire straits as they lose service jobs and have nothing to fall back on.
These leaves me a number of things that I am very thankful for, while acknowledging that I truly am lucky to have them:
- Health. Both my health, and the health of my family. I am very thankful that my parents, who are not young, nor super-healthy, and my in-laws (who are even older) are so far untouched by COVID. I do not know if they would survive it if they caught it. My sister and her family live in a hot-bed area and did get sick recently, but so far everyone is doing well. Obviously, many people in this country (and in the world!) cannot say the same. As a doctor, I am doing my best to try to improve this situation.
- My opportunities. To be honest, I don’t have all the opportunities afforded to a white Christian man in this country. Still, I enjoy a lot more privilege than many of my fellow Americans. I feel a little squeamish being thankful for this, as it feels icky, and I feel obliged to point out that I worked hard and still faced bias; but that’s really not the right answer to the problem of inequality. Luckily for me, I have people I work with who think about this a lot, and are working to educate their peers, and our students. I do not know if this will be fixed in my lifetime, but I am very hopeful that it will get better. I hope that I will be able to play a role in making this better.
- Wealth. I am thankful still to be employed and, for the moment, not to see my pay significantly cut. Though I suspect bonuses may be a thing of the past for a few years; and how we get paid is being restructured. I am already being asked to work more for the same money. Nevertheless, in the PiN household, we have means sufficient to our needs. Again, it is obvious that not everyone in this country can say the same. I feel it is my duty to support some of the charities that help make up a safety net here, acknowledging that public policy is the tool that will really make the big difference. I can say that I voted this year. We will see what our politicians–local and national–will do.
What are you thankful for in this plague year of 2020? Pleas share below if you are comfortable.