Lockdown Freedom

A couple of weeks into our pandemic lockdown, on a Zoom call with some writer friends, one of them lamented, “I’m not writing at all. I can’t find a reason to. It doesn’t seem worth it.” I felt bad for her. I didn’t want to trample over her frustration so I could brag, “That’s about all I’ve been doing,” but it is my happy truth. I can find every reason to write, even though the novelty of being at home wore off many weeks ago.

I take my blessings where I can find them.

When I found my balance again after setting up an isolation life, I looked at my days to see where I could gain extra writing time. Since I can’t get away from being an accountant, I counted hours dropped into my lap, time saved from not having to commute to and from Manhattan five days a week. That gave me two hours each day. Cancelled choir rehearsals freed up two more hours each week. Within a few minutes I had found twelve hours

I still follow my basic working-in-the-city schedule. I’m up before 6 o’clock for a couple hours of morning writing. I take morning and afternoon writing breaks at my job. I get some more done on my lunch hour. Rather than having to scrounge for the hard-to-find quiet writing space in the city, I roll my chair to the other side of my table and get to work. When my job-day is over, I have some creative energy left so I write a bit more.

I still get stuck, but I have time to think my obstacles through without the distraction of a clock ticking down, reminding me that it’s time to get back to the office.

Life is a double-edged sword in lockdown. I suffer from cabin fever like everyone I know. I’m anxious to get out, see my friends, and enjoy New York City again, but I want to stay healthy. And now that I’ve gotten used to this precious gift of time, I don’t want to lose it.