082520 — Blog — Rulerless

I had an agenda for the summer.

Of course, I had already given up on my usual summer agenda of traveling, visiting family, and having a lighter workload than usual due to school being out. So, my new agenda accounted for the coronavirus restrictions and complications and mandated a season of creative work. I planned for a high output, taking advantage of plenty of free time.

That didn’t happen. Even though I have the time, taking care of immediate concerns consumes most of my energy, leaving little left over for more work.

Casey von NeumannJuly 29, 2020082520, 090820, 092920, 040221, 082421 Comments

The reality of The Season

A friend’s five-year-old has taken to calling the time of coronavirus “The Season.”

She doesn’t like The Season: No school, porch visits only, masks and physical distance. Right there with ya, kid.

It’s important to me to have a sense of ease in my work — but discomfort is also a key element of growth. The harmony between these two states is what keeps us learning effectively. We want to see juuuuust the right amount of discomfort melting into ease again and again, little by little, like adding flour to your eggs and butter.

Casey von NeumannJuly 7, 2020071720, 072920, 082520, 091720, 100820, 073021, 122421Comment

Everything can change

The big budget-killer for us was always restaurants. My husband and I loved going out to eat, and we didn’t put enough effort into planning meals. So when there was no food in the fridge or we didn’t get home from work until 6 PM — oh no! — we’d go to a restaurant.

I’m using past tense because everything is different now.

Restaurants are opening in our area, but we’re going out to eat or getting takeout only once a week or so.

We’ve made grocery shopping and meal planning a priority. We have completely new habits and a new routine thanks to the coronavirus lockdown. It seemed impossible before, but this is who we are now. We’ve changed.

Casey von NeumannJune 26, 2020change, 071720, 081220, 082520, 100920, 090621Comment

Cycles, seasons, and stretch breaks

A teenage friend revealed — in front of his mother! — that sometimes, he doesn’t want to play video games.

I suppose three months of being on lockdown will do that to even the most devoted gamer.

“Sometimes, I just feel like…why am I playing?” And when this thought occurs to him, he might get up to eat or use the bathroom. Maybe he’ll even go outside.

Casey von NeumannJune 12, 2020070720, 072920, 082520, 102920, 122920, 080521 Comments

It's okay if you can't

There’s a lot going on right now. Many of us have experienced dramatic changes to our lifestyle and livelihood.

Any one of these changes would be a lot to get used to and would require a period of adjustment, and they’re all hitting at once.

On top of that, many of us are sick. And people are dying. That’s reality.

Casey von NeumannMarch 25, 2020change, 070720, 071720, 072920, 082520, 102620, 120120, 101422 Comments