What do you do while you’re “social distancing”?

I have worked from home for years, but under the label of “social distancing,” it feels different. Every day health officials give updates in news conferences, which I like to watch firsthand (it beats getting the piecemeal summaries from journalists later). And every day the tone of our Federal and Provincial Health Officers grows graver and more urgent. How quickly new terms like “window of opportunity,” “flattening the curve,” “social distancing,” and “self-isolation” have become absorbed into daily life and experience.

Fortunately, my husband and I are well, though we are in the most at-risk age group. We have no grave existing conditions or chronic illnesses. We get our annual flu shots and this winter I haven’t even had a cold. So, I’m not that concerned about my own health or ability to weather a Covid-19 infection. But I am concerned about the health of others, particularly senior friends with fragile health.

As a result, my preference is to try and follow (in spirit and letter) the social distancing guidelines proposed by the powers that be—that is, stay home. We go for our daily walk, shop for supplies when needed, but other than that, we stay put at home. We’ve even cancelled a coffee date at the home of friends out of an abundance of caution for the wife, who works in a seniors care facility. Are we being extreme? We don’t feel we are.

One thing I do every day now, is remind myself more than ever Who is ultimately in charge—of this world and of my life. I do this through prayer and reading the Bible daily, saturating myself in accounts of God’s power and marinating in psalms like Psalm 91.

I also spend some time each day doing a little art. I find that the cares of life fall away as I get absorbed in drawing and painting. I’ve amassed a body of work doing daily art for over a year now and have been wondering, is there anything I could do with these sketches and paintings?

Recently I have become aware of a print-on-demand site (Redbubble.com) where artists can set up their own shops. I joined, and have uploaded art there. The company applies my art to a variety of products I choose. People can then order these things. Redbubble ships the products (with my designs on them) and I make a small percentage on each sale without having to manufacture the item, take the order, collect the payment, and send it out. Pretty sweet deal, I’d say!

I realize that right about now you probably feel about as much like shopping as I do—i.e. not at all. But if you become bored with all the news conferences and Netflix, need a break from doing puzzles and playing games, you might enjoy doing a little browsing on Redbubble, against the day when shopping again appeals. Just in case you’re interested, my shop is HERE. Some of the stuff you’ll find there …