The COVID-19 Pandemic has shaken our world in ways we never thought imaginable.
For over a year, families, friends, and loved ones have been separated from one another. Precautions set to help keep the virus from spreading have had good intentions, but we have unfortunately lasted far longer than anyone ever originally thought.
Because of this, there is a sense of needing to make up for lost time, so how can we do so after so much time spent apart? Here are 5 ideas to get you started.
1. Memorable Experiences
Although time cannot be gained back from the last fourteen months, there are still ways to memorably make up for time apart. Fostering memorable experiences are a great opportunity to connect with everyone again.
Perhaps a day trip to the beach, or a movie night on the lawn can bring about unforgettable experiences. Taking the time to break free from the new normal of our living rooms and reconnecting with the outdoors and each other can also place a bright remembrance after such a dark time.
Get back to the activities you once enjoyed so much together, or cultivate new experiences together.
2. Light-Hearted Activity
The past several months have weighed heavily on many hearts, so many of us have felt distant from the people we once were and from one another.
With that being said, light-hearted activities can prove a remedy for a heavy-laden heart. Dust off some of summer’s fond polaroid memories to try with those you care about. Consider a picnic on the lawn, or a backyard cookout.
Plan some window shopping at the mall, or a day hike with friends. Dust off the fire pit, or take advantage of some of the reduced restrictions set for classes or opportunities from local shops and vendors.
Remember that just because time has passed, time going forward can be meaningful and celebrated. COVID has taken a lot from us, but it cannot take the love that has been years in the building.
3. One-on-One Time
With time apart it can feel awkward at first coming back together. Many of us have almost forgotten what it means to be social or in real life with others, but we are coming into a time where it is safe to be together again.
This can be a time to intentionally spend time one on one with one another. Take this time to catch up, to share vulnerability and truthfully about your experience during the Pandemic, and provide some authentic connection after time apart.
Many of us have felt exceedingly isolated during this time, but when we can open up to one other and even share in similar feelings it makes the experience feel less cut off. It can also be a time to dream together, to encourage one another in hope, and to walk hand in hand together into the future.
4. Deep Connection
Authentic and deep connection nearly feels like something foreign, or a thing of the past, but it can still take place even in a Post COVID world.
Sharing together in a group and recognizing the experiences each of us has experienced over the past fourteen months can help us walk forward together. It can also foster bonds together in that we all made it through a frightening time together, or perhaps we can share in our encounters with loss or illness.
For those who did have COVID it can be freeing to share what they went through with one another. For me personally experiencing a difficult case of COVID and an even harder journey with Post-COVID complications it has proved a blessing to share with others who also endured such a journey.
We are stronger together and we carry a valuable and different perspective to bring to the table. Don’t fear the deep-end of connection, cannonball in!
5. Making Plans
Keep in mind that for many coming back into the world can be daunting or scary, so be patient with those feeling apprehensive still. Make the effort to make plans, and be sure to invite people even if they are feeling timid still.
Knowing that there is a place for them will serve as a reminder that they are not forgotten, and that they are welcome however they feel most comfortable. It also invites opportunity for them to step back into the world again.
Start small with plans, and consider those who have been impacted the most from this long quarantine season. It is amazing how a soul can be blessed by just even a small time of connection.
COVID is not the first Pandemic to sweep the world, but it is the first in many of our lifetimes, and because of that we each carry a unique understanding of what it has looked like.
For many of us the idea of making up for lost time can feel like we are trying to beat the clock, but it is imperative to remember that we are right where we need to be, and what really matters is not the length of time lost, but the fact that we are together yet again.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/jacoblund
Cally Logan is an author and US History teacher from Richmond, Virginia. Her works have been featured on "The 700 Club Interactive," “Jesus Calling Blog,” and “Coffee and Bible Time,” among several notable outlets. She served as a mentor for young women for several years and enjoys challenging women to develop deeper relationships with God and to live fearlessly and authentically. She received her B.A. Degree from Regent University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, having genuine chats over coffee, and woodworking. Her new book, The Wallflower That Bloomed, is available everywhere now. Connect with Cally: @CallyLogan Instagram CallyLogan.com