I haven’t worn a watch in months
This year is not a normal year. That is no surprise to anyone reading this from 2020. I haven’t worn my watch in months, because of a workplace rule called “Bare below the elbows”. In the past I have just worn a watch anyways. I love my watch and it’s waterproof, and I wash it with soap and water every time I wash my hands, so it doesn’t seem much different than a bare wrist. But this year I’ve felt the need to lead by example. This little quirk stands out to me at how much this year is not normal.
I have no idea how long this thing is going to take. When or if life will be normal again. I doubt it will be the same, but I think we will feel normal again. Just like it’s normal to take your shoes off at the airport, or drink your water bottle before security…
I should have written more when it was happening. This year has been a lot of things, notably by missing out on a lot of things. Right now it’s August. Australia is in the middle of their second wave of the pandemic with a new surge wreaking havoc and killing people in Victoria. Queensland is largely sitting this one out, but could spend some time in its own wave in the future. This year has been a stressful roller coaster, oscillating rapidly between worrying about my fellowship exam looming and the possibility that I might be killed by a virus at work. Not the best, to say the least. Right now, my friends and family and really everyone I know has been safe and healthy, and I’m so thankful for that. I hope it stays that way.
I don’t have much groundbreaking revelation to put here, but just thought I would acknowledge where we are right now. I am learning a new way of walking through the world one step at a time.