Piece of Mind with Jill Summerhayes

For the 43 years I’ve lived in Cambridge, a community I love, my involvement have been varied and diverse. They included more than 25 years of writing a weekly newspaper column, Piece of Mind.

The theme was sharing my thoughts about every day, ordinary occurrences in a positive way, I’m delighted to begin this again, twice a month for CambridgeToday.

When, in December 2019, my husband David and I took an amazing trip to the Amazon Rainforest, we had no idea within a few months our major travel plans would be put on hold due to a pandemic. Everything we knew changed. Now a trip to the grocery store is the weekly outing, we may even look forward to a dental appointment, an opportunity to leave the house. COVID took away our normal.

Finding ways to help us cope with our everyday life has been exhausting and mentally wearing, especially for all those on the front lines, the very people we depend on, but who we took for granted. 

We can never appreciate them enough. During the first wave I fell into the trap of a cleaning and baking frenzy one day, or sitting anxious, depressed and having that extra glass of wine, the next.  We registered for a six-week course offered for U of T alumni by professor Joordens, which I found most helpful, it was a thoughtful analysis of what and why our behaviour had changed. 

For every complaint about what governments have done, or not done, or should have done, there are others who have shown unprecedented kindnesses, going out of their way to help, coming up with creative solutions, making masks, cooking meals, shopping for elder shut-ins, and health care workers. Bringing love and joy in unexpected ways.

Many people tried new creative hobbies, exploring talent they never knew they had. I registered for StoryWorth, an online site where you answer weekly questions bound into a hard back book at years end, giving me a book of family stories, a legacy for my children. Recalling memories that I had not thought about for years but were an integral part of my life. This gave me an overall appreciation and I loved the weekly process. 

Our own Grand Gardeners Facebook site hosted by David Hobson and P.J. Gagne has risen from a few, to over 3,000 members. Advice and encouragement shared with experienced gardeners and novices. People have slowed down enough to observe much of the beauty of life, many for the first- time appreciating nature and wildlife. 

There will continue to be unexpected obstacles to be overcome as we emerge, some happy, others sad. Many lessons have been learned, lives, income, and businesses lost, marriages have broken down, others have become closer and more thankful.

The indomitable human spirit will sustain us through this and for me, an extrovert, I look forward to our “stay at home and lockdown” ending, but if you are not a hugger watch out, as I am!