These pandemic times have required us to pull back from each other, to be careful, to mask up, to stay safe. As more and more of us get vaccinated, the world has slowly begun to look a little different: hugging someone you love for the first time in a year, having drinks with a workmate you’ve only seen on Zoom, maybe even eating in a restaurant. Small, tentative steps.
It’s gotten me thinking about opportunities to not only live larger, but also do more for others. Since today is my birthday, I’ve imagined how wonderful it would be to throw a really big party and invite tons of people. Just to watch everyone enjoying each other’s company. A real blow-out.
What ideas do you have for opening up, reconnecting, living large? What plans have you made? All ideas and experiences, big and small, are welcome. Extra points for ideas that make the lives of others better.
If you find value here, I hope you’ll become a paid subscriber so that we can keep expanding this work. And please do share this with others.
Happy birthday and congratulations on your launch! I’ve enjoyed your Tweets for a long time. Something I’m looking forward to is being able to simply smile at people. Having the ability to enrich a conversation or transaction subtly, like meeting someone’s eye, and by a small facial movement, letting them know I understand them.
I am just hoping we have a post pandemic life which resembles some portion if our full pre pandemic life.
Unless the Trumpublicans accept science and notions of common welfare for every American from all heritages and immigrant from every where in the world we are doomed to a fractured life without respect.
Do I want to attend a baseball game where someone next to me verbally disparages others? no
Do I want to listen to members of my family disparage others? no
We cannot get post pandemic until all Americans are equal.
Yesterday, trained hike leaders for the Appalachian Mountain Club. Numbers are limited due to Covid. Ten people max, including trainers. Outside. Masks required. We have huge pent up demand to train both new leaders and existing leaders who have to renew their wilderness first aid certifications. We weren't doing any in person training for the longest time. Zoom doesn't replace the human interaction when we do scenarios. In my real life, it looks like my younger son can come home once his brother is fully vaccinated, so looking forward to a reunion in mid-May.
Happy birthday! Maybe we can all realize how fragile life is; how wonderful life can be if we care for each other. Watch out for those who do wrong and call them out!
I know the landscape will be forever changed. Places that you went to and cherished will be gone. It will seem to magnify the cloak of incredible loss we feel, but we must think if it as a rebirth. A new phase of renewal, regrowth and evolution.
I’m looking at post pandemic as a new adventure. I’m going to go to the parks I’ve always loved, but find new ones to wander with my beagle. I’m going to have small pool parties & cookouts. But, mostly I’m going to pay more attention to everyone & everything around me. I’m going to speak up more, wear what I want to wear as opposed to wearing what others expect me to wear, volunteer at the school helping kids that need help with reading & rest for the upcoming election. I’m just going to work on trying to be more positive & enjoy people again. Of course, I’m still going to wear a mask as long as we need too. I’m really excited for it. It will be a new beginning...
The pandemic only changed a few things for me. I do have trouble hearing people as I used to watch lips to understand what people were saying. Also I wonder if other people can tell I am smiling. I never liked crowds in the first place. So I got to have holidays here at home during the pandemic. I am waiting for people to act responsibly. Fear that will take a long time.
Happy Birthday, Steven. Last year I had a big birthday. My brother organized a ZOOM party, and frankly, I enjoyed it more than a "real" party. Not having to worry about food and drinks and clean up, and being able to focus on the PEOPLE and their cheering words, all of that and more made it a very festive day for me. May you enjoy similar festivities.
Steven: To make the lives of others better, do not jump the gun and write things that cause people to prematurely stop all measures to prevent and reduce the spread. Encourage everyone to rigorously practice the 4-W’s: Wear a mask, Wash your hands, Watch your distance, Wait to travel until new case counts and local positive test results are a tiny, tiny fraction of current levels, nearly everyone over 16 yo is vaccinated, testing, contact tracing, effective quarantine is in place everywhere AND identification and isolation of variant infections is in place. Don’t be stupid. You don’t turn your back on a forest fire until it is completely out or at least completely under control, rapidly shrinking and unable to flare-up and under effective fire watch.
Happy Birthday. I hope it was wonderful. I've been on my own for most of this time. I've seen my very small circle of friends and family, but, my biggest outing is usually the grocery store. Other than long hugs, I miss the get togethers I would have with friends. Lots of food, drinks, good conversations and lots of laughs. I miss going to hear my son's band play, and all live music and theater events. I miss traveling, learning about other places and the people who live there, the food they eat, what they do for fun. I just miss fully living. For the foreseeable future, I can make the lives of others better by continuing to wear my mask, continue to donate to my local food shelf, and when I do go out, smile big enough at people that they can see it in my eyes that I'm really happy to see them, even if that person is a stranger. I will not slip into the hate and fear that seems to have gripped a good portion of our country. Love, empathy and compassion for everyone, is the only way out of all of this.
This year has been a time to slow down, reflect, resist horrible jobs just for money, connect with nature in a completely different way, connect with loved ones, and work with others who are visualizing a better society and saving the planet.
Happy birthday and congratulations on your launch! I’ve enjoyed your Tweets for a long time. Something I’m looking forward to is being able to simply smile at people. Having the ability to enrich a conversation or transaction subtly, like meeting someone’s eye, and by a small facial movement, letting them know I understand them.
I am just hoping we have a post pandemic life which resembles some portion if our full pre pandemic life.
Unless the Trumpublicans accept science and notions of common welfare for every American from all heritages and immigrant from every where in the world we are doomed to a fractured life without respect.
Do I want to attend a baseball game where someone next to me verbally disparages others? no
Do I want to listen to members of my family disparage others? no
We cannot get post pandemic until all Americans are equal.
Yesterday, trained hike leaders for the Appalachian Mountain Club. Numbers are limited due to Covid. Ten people max, including trainers. Outside. Masks required. We have huge pent up demand to train both new leaders and existing leaders who have to renew their wilderness first aid certifications. We weren't doing any in person training for the longest time. Zoom doesn't replace the human interaction when we do scenarios. In my real life, it looks like my younger son can come home once his brother is fully vaccinated, so looking forward to a reunion in mid-May.
Happy birthday! Maybe we can all realize how fragile life is; how wonderful life can be if we care for each other. Watch out for those who do wrong and call them out!
Happy Birthday, Steven Beschloss!
I know the landscape will be forever changed. Places that you went to and cherished will be gone. It will seem to magnify the cloak of incredible loss we feel, but we must think if it as a rebirth. A new phase of renewal, regrowth and evolution.
Happy Birthday Steve! Keep writing please after the cake!
Happy Birthday! You deserve a huge party!
I’m looking at post pandemic as a new adventure. I’m going to go to the parks I’ve always loved, but find new ones to wander with my beagle. I’m going to have small pool parties & cookouts. But, mostly I’m going to pay more attention to everyone & everything around me. I’m going to speak up more, wear what I want to wear as opposed to wearing what others expect me to wear, volunteer at the school helping kids that need help with reading & rest for the upcoming election. I’m just going to work on trying to be more positive & enjoy people again. Of course, I’m still going to wear a mask as long as we need too. I’m really excited for it. It will be a new beginning...
Happy Birthday Steven.
The pandemic only changed a few things for me. I do have trouble hearing people as I used to watch lips to understand what people were saying. Also I wonder if other people can tell I am smiling. I never liked crowds in the first place. So I got to have holidays here at home during the pandemic. I am waiting for people to act responsibly. Fear that will take a long time.
Happy Birthday, Steven. Last year I had a big birthday. My brother organized a ZOOM party, and frankly, I enjoyed it more than a "real" party. Not having to worry about food and drinks and clean up, and being able to focus on the PEOPLE and their cheering words, all of that and more made it a very festive day for me. May you enjoy similar festivities.
Steven: To make the lives of others better, do not jump the gun and write things that cause people to prematurely stop all measures to prevent and reduce the spread. Encourage everyone to rigorously practice the 4-W’s: Wear a mask, Wash your hands, Watch your distance, Wait to travel until new case counts and local positive test results are a tiny, tiny fraction of current levels, nearly everyone over 16 yo is vaccinated, testing, contact tracing, effective quarantine is in place everywhere AND identification and isolation of variant infections is in place. Don’t be stupid. You don’t turn your back on a forest fire until it is completely out or at least completely under control, rapidly shrinking and unable to flare-up and under effective fire watch.
Sincerely,
DH
Happy Birthday. I hope it was wonderful. I've been on my own for most of this time. I've seen my very small circle of friends and family, but, my biggest outing is usually the grocery store. Other than long hugs, I miss the get togethers I would have with friends. Lots of food, drinks, good conversations and lots of laughs. I miss going to hear my son's band play, and all live music and theater events. I miss traveling, learning about other places and the people who live there, the food they eat, what they do for fun. I just miss fully living. For the foreseeable future, I can make the lives of others better by continuing to wear my mask, continue to donate to my local food shelf, and when I do go out, smile big enough at people that they can see it in my eyes that I'm really happy to see them, even if that person is a stranger. I will not slip into the hate and fear that seems to have gripped a good portion of our country. Love, empathy and compassion for everyone, is the only way out of all of this.
This year has been a time to slow down, reflect, resist horrible jobs just for money, connect with nature in a completely different way, connect with loved ones, and work with others who are visualizing a better society and saving the planet.