My Favourite Things - COVID Edition
I have a dream.
I'm going to be on Oprah.
I know, I know.
I told you I was going to be on Ellen and that went rather well, don't you think?
But, for real, this time.
I'm going to be on Oprah.
I can just see it.
Oprah: "Good morning Ladies and Gentleman, and all those people who do not associate themselves with either of these categories. We have a special guest with us today - we have the Sarah Lee".
(applause and cheers from the audience - which of course, is virtual - since we are all practicing social distancing FOREVER)
Oprah: "So your name is Sarah Lee and I hear you are of no relation to the cake lady?"
Me : "Correct." (smiling like this is the first time I've ever heard this - but it IS Oprah, so I will give her the joke)
Oprah: "In fact, you actually were named after something but it wasn't the cake lady, right?"
Me: "Yes. I was named after a line of baby clothes called Sarah Louise, which was a luxury baby clothes line in the UK. The cake lady wasn't a thing there at all." (I have repeated this sentence after nearly every introduction my whole life.)
Oprah: "So tell us about the story in your book."
My little dream.
The only problem with this little dream is that it involves me writing a book, which I continually get great ideas for, and do not commit to following through.
This is also why this site was almost called COVID Confessions or Confessions in a COVID Diary because I'm pretty pro at owning my shortfalls, including this one.
But Quarantine Candy sounded fun and silly, and I wanted to try and send something positive out at a time we are locked down and seeing some of the best and worst of our behavioural traits.
Speaking of which, patience is not exactly my strongest virtue.
***
Last week, I spent an atrocious amount of time on hold with Service Canada. I spent an even enormous more amount of time pressing redial trying to even get in the que to be on hold. I found the more times I called, the higher my frustration climbed. I would seethe when the call dropped after I had a brief window of hope that someone would save me from the Spanish hold music. I quit only when I completely ran out of energy and was utterly furious at the system. I would tell myself "Sarah, there are a million Canadians trying to call this number right now - dig deep and find patience. Call back tomorrow." but it didn't matter. Once my blood pressure soared, it required the same amount of time to lower it and not even the sleepy class in yoga could settle me back down.
I had submitted delay requests to TD for interest on my VISA, efforts to the utility companies for payment deferral and simultaneous attempts to get through to the mortgage company - and in 23 days, have yet to be successful to reach anyone.
I found comfort only in my routine and my daily routine begins every morning with a coffee and a journal. I sit with my Happiness Planner book* and write what I'm grateful for. There are days I have stared at a blank page for 15 minutes trying to come up with something and others where the April flowers have bloomed, the sun is shining and I have the greatest homemade cup of coffee in my hand. Those notes and those wins became this post.
* (The Happiness Planner was on my Original Favourite Things post. Hmm.. O.G. I really should name the Original post O.G. Favourite Things and be trendy - note for later).
***
In no particular order, here are a few surprises I've been gifted and grateful for through this time.
1. 7th Wave Zoom Yoga Classes - I am not a big fan of trying new things because I'm not real keen on being anything but an expert. The beginner part of the process doesn't really appeal. I said for a full week that I was going to try this whole Zoom yoga thing out and when it came down to it, I had a whole list of excuses. What if the internet isn't strong enough? I don't want to rearrange the basement. There isn't really anywhere to do this. I don't know how to do it. I might feel silly on camera. I could go on...
Then a girlfriend of mine who lives 45 minutes away from the studio texted me and said "Are you going to do the online classes? Paul and I have done a few." Well, now this is very cool. Students not from our local studio are able to join and be together. This could be an experience I never would've had pre-COVID.
Melinda Walker, studio owner and instructor, has invested her time and energy into learning how to lead live classes and bring our community (and far away ones too!) together. She is giving free classes to First Responders for the entire month of April and she has a huge tribute outside her studio downtown Burlington to all those in service. Every time I walk up Brant Street, I think "I love you Melinda Walker!! You are compassionate and fabulous and amazing for virtually giving us all the gift of your studio regardless of where you live."
Some days I could just do a restorative class and lie on the floor and breathe for an hour (also known as the "sleepy class") and some days I need to move and the gentle classes are lovely. I have posted Melinda's email address and schedule below and would encourage anyone who can, to join us. Try it once! You'll love it, I promise. (Especially if it's the sleepy class).
https://7thwaveyogaonbrant.tulasoftware.com/student/calendar
email address - info@theseventhwave.ca
2. Hello Fresh - This is somewhat comical, because technically I haven't tried this yet, but I have very high expectations of it next week. Another friend sent me a link to try 3 free meals and get this! They drop this stuff off, full meal kits, at your door every Sunday. It is less than $5 per meal (so I'm told - I never would've done the math) and there is no waste! (well, maybe there was at Hello Fresh. But in the kit that arrives to my front door, there will be none.) TBD on this, but if you have any interest - message me! I can get you 3 free meals too and you can try it for yourself! (I have used more exclamation marks here than any other item. Clearly I'm excited about this.)
https://www.hellofresh.ca/my-account/deliveries/menu/
3. ICON - Huge shout out to my friend and previous colleague Peter Evans. Pete and his partners run a visual communications company making large format graphics, amongst much else. They have partnership with MLSE, all the swanky cosmetic companies and loads of retail clients in North America. I was thinking of them recently and what a tragedy to print and digital advertising this pandemic has caused. Then, in one scroll through Social Media, I see that ICON is making plexi dividers to keep store workers safe and printing floor graphics for social distancing. I smiled and totally teared up reading his post. The ability to adapt and survive is one thing, but to make a difference to the health and safety of others is amazing.
https://www.icondigital.com
4. Sage Handsoap - I love anything luxury. Luxury travel, luxury hotels, luxury dinners, dreamy exquisite luxury of any kind, la di da. My goal in life was to spend on Liquid Sunshine foaming handsoap from Sage. At the time, it felt like the most ridiculous purchase ever because who spends $12 on hand soap? I would like you to know that if you are confined to your home with one weekly outing to the grocery store, A) it was the best $12 I ever spent and B) sadly, it is already gone and not a sustainable purchase on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit payment plan.
https://www.saje.com/ca
5. Worldometer - Should you wish to obsess, as I do, about the state of the world and observe trends in new and existing cases of Coronavirus, this link is where it's at. It's the first thing I click on when I wake up and the last thing before the 5 o'clock news. (Doesn't my day sound exciting?) As of this writing, there is 1200 new cases in Canada today. I'm particularly interested in the cases in the US and in Sweden, as Sweden is not following the norm with social distancing practices and I'm very curious to see how the statistics unfold as I've been fairly fanatical about physical distancing and using, generally 25 feet, not 6, wherever I go.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
6. Paper Towels - I didn't know these were going to my favourite things until I could no longer find them. I am now using napkins with Christmas trees tied to the tops of cars to Windex my bathroom mirror until I pick up the "cheap paper towel" from my Mother (who, and I quote, "kept the good stuff for herself.")
7. Seat of the Soul - Completely fascinated by this book of Gary Zukav's and might even read it twice. If you are a spiritual junkie or wanna-be spiritual junkie and have not read this book - it should be on the list. My understanding of setting intentions has been completely altered and there was a fair few 'a-ha' moments in the pages.
8. BurlingtonON/Restaurants/TakeOut/Delivery Facebook group - I realize that every touch of food or delivery increases risk of transmission, but on my birthday - when I was unable to go out for dinner or see my family or friends, I was a real big fan of this Facebook group. Every restaurant who is available for delivery and all menus or websites are accessible and there are loads of conversations about what's open and when. Scaddabush Italian was the win that day, inclusive of the bottle of Valpolicella that nicely came along with it.
9. L'Oreal Root Touch Up - I would never suggest that anyone should make an unnecessary trip to Shoppers Drug Mart for "non-essential" items, putting themselves in harm's way, but if you're already going for say, Tylenol (which I hear is what you would use to drop a fever, for example), you might want to pick up a can of this brilliant root touch up, available in a variety of colours. If you can't decide if you're dark blonde or light blonde, hell just buy them both - you may become a combination of each of these choices soon anyways. It is temporary, washes out, and for the low, low price of $9.99, you can survive isolation and not torture your stylist with boxed colour.
10. The Shoe Post - This is quite possibly the greatest Facebook post I've seen in ages. If you are left brained centric, you see Teal and Grey. If you are right brain, Pink and White. According to the internet, the left brained people tend to be more analytical, logical and numerical and think in words and right brain tends to be creative and free thinking, intuitive and able to see the big picture. When I first looked at the picture, I could only see pink and white and was fascinated by everyone seeing green. Then after writing for a while, I looked at the photo again and I saw grey shoes with green laces. How crazy is that??! This led me to the question - depending on what activity you are doing and what side of your brain you are using, is there potential to change the way you see the picture? As I was writing and using language to "think in words", I was able to see the colours on the photo differently. Things that make you go hmmm.
I'm going to be on Oprah.
I know, I know.
I told you I was going to be on Ellen and that went rather well, don't you think?
But, for real, this time.
I'm going to be on Oprah.
I can just see it.
Oprah: "Good morning Ladies and Gentleman, and all those people who do not associate themselves with either of these categories. We have a special guest with us today - we have the Sarah Lee".
(applause and cheers from the audience - which of course, is virtual - since we are all practicing social distancing FOREVER)
Oprah: "So your name is Sarah Lee and I hear you are of no relation to the cake lady?"
Me : "Correct." (smiling like this is the first time I've ever heard this - but it IS Oprah, so I will give her the joke)
Oprah: "In fact, you actually were named after something but it wasn't the cake lady, right?"
Me: "Yes. I was named after a line of baby clothes called Sarah Louise, which was a luxury baby clothes line in the UK. The cake lady wasn't a thing there at all." (I have repeated this sentence after nearly every introduction my whole life.)
Oprah: "So tell us about the story in your book."
My little dream.
The only problem with this little dream is that it involves me writing a book, which I continually get great ideas for, and do not commit to following through.
This is also why this site was almost called COVID Confessions or Confessions in a COVID Diary because I'm pretty pro at owning my shortfalls, including this one.
But Quarantine Candy sounded fun and silly, and I wanted to try and send something positive out at a time we are locked down and seeing some of the best and worst of our behavioural traits.
Speaking of which, patience is not exactly my strongest virtue.
***
Last week, I spent an atrocious amount of time on hold with Service Canada. I spent an even enormous more amount of time pressing redial trying to even get in the que to be on hold. I found the more times I called, the higher my frustration climbed. I would seethe when the call dropped after I had a brief window of hope that someone would save me from the Spanish hold music. I quit only when I completely ran out of energy and was utterly furious at the system. I would tell myself "Sarah, there are a million Canadians trying to call this number right now - dig deep and find patience. Call back tomorrow." but it didn't matter. Once my blood pressure soared, it required the same amount of time to lower it and not even the sleepy class in yoga could settle me back down.
I had submitted delay requests to TD for interest on my VISA, efforts to the utility companies for payment deferral and simultaneous attempts to get through to the mortgage company - and in 23 days, have yet to be successful to reach anyone.
I found comfort only in my routine and my daily routine begins every morning with a coffee and a journal. I sit with my Happiness Planner book* and write what I'm grateful for. There are days I have stared at a blank page for 15 minutes trying to come up with something and others where the April flowers have bloomed, the sun is shining and I have the greatest homemade cup of coffee in my hand. Those notes and those wins became this post.
* (The Happiness Planner was on my Original Favourite Things post. Hmm.. O.G. I really should name the Original post O.G. Favourite Things and be trendy - note for later).
***
1. 7th Wave Zoom Yoga Classes - I am not a big fan of trying new things because I'm not real keen on being anything but an expert. The beginner part of the process doesn't really appeal. I said for a full week that I was going to try this whole Zoom yoga thing out and when it came down to it, I had a whole list of excuses. What if the internet isn't strong enough? I don't want to rearrange the basement. There isn't really anywhere to do this. I don't know how to do it. I might feel silly on camera. I could go on...
Then a girlfriend of mine who lives 45 minutes away from the studio texted me and said "Are you going to do the online classes? Paul and I have done a few." Well, now this is very cool. Students not from our local studio are able to join and be together. This could be an experience I never would've had pre-COVID.
Melinda Walker, studio owner and instructor, has invested her time and energy into learning how to lead live classes and bring our community (and far away ones too!) together. She is giving free classes to First Responders for the entire month of April and she has a huge tribute outside her studio downtown Burlington to all those in service. Every time I walk up Brant Street, I think "I love you Melinda Walker!! You are compassionate and fabulous and amazing for virtually giving us all the gift of your studio regardless of where you live."
Some days I could just do a restorative class and lie on the floor and breathe for an hour (also known as the "sleepy class") and some days I need to move and the gentle classes are lovely. I have posted Melinda's email address and schedule below and would encourage anyone who can, to join us. Try it once! You'll love it, I promise. (Especially if it's the sleepy class).
https://7thwaveyogaonbrant.tulasoftware.com/student/calendar
email address - info@theseventhwave.ca
2. Hello Fresh - This is somewhat comical, because technically I haven't tried this yet, but I have very high expectations of it next week. Another friend sent me a link to try 3 free meals and get this! They drop this stuff off, full meal kits, at your door every Sunday. It is less than $5 per meal (so I'm told - I never would've done the math) and there is no waste! (well, maybe there was at Hello Fresh. But in the kit that arrives to my front door, there will be none.) TBD on this, but if you have any interest - message me! I can get you 3 free meals too and you can try it for yourself! (I have used more exclamation marks here than any other item. Clearly I'm excited about this.)
https://www.hellofresh.ca/my-account/deliveries/menu/
3. ICON - Huge shout out to my friend and previous colleague Peter Evans. Pete and his partners run a visual communications company making large format graphics, amongst much else. They have partnership with MLSE, all the swanky cosmetic companies and loads of retail clients in North America. I was thinking of them recently and what a tragedy to print and digital advertising this pandemic has caused. Then, in one scroll through Social Media, I see that ICON is making plexi dividers to keep store workers safe and printing floor graphics for social distancing. I smiled and totally teared up reading his post. The ability to adapt and survive is one thing, but to make a difference to the health and safety of others is amazing.
https://www.icondigital.com
4. Sage Handsoap - I love anything luxury. Luxury travel, luxury hotels, luxury dinners, dreamy exquisite luxury of any kind, la di da. My goal in life was to spend on Liquid Sunshine foaming handsoap from Sage. At the time, it felt like the most ridiculous purchase ever because who spends $12 on hand soap? I would like you to know that if you are confined to your home with one weekly outing to the grocery store, A) it was the best $12 I ever spent and B) sadly, it is already gone and not a sustainable purchase on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit payment plan.
https://www.saje.com/ca
5. Worldometer - Should you wish to obsess, as I do, about the state of the world and observe trends in new and existing cases of Coronavirus, this link is where it's at. It's the first thing I click on when I wake up and the last thing before the 5 o'clock news. (Doesn't my day sound exciting?) As of this writing, there is 1200 new cases in Canada today. I'm particularly interested in the cases in the US and in Sweden, as Sweden is not following the norm with social distancing practices and I'm very curious to see how the statistics unfold as I've been fairly fanatical about physical distancing and using, generally 25 feet, not 6, wherever I go.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
6. Paper Towels - I didn't know these were going to my favourite things until I could no longer find them. I am now using napkins with Christmas trees tied to the tops of cars to Windex my bathroom mirror until I pick up the "cheap paper towel" from my Mother (who, and I quote, "kept the good stuff for herself.")
7. Seat of the Soul - Completely fascinated by this book of Gary Zukav's and might even read it twice. If you are a spiritual junkie or wanna-be spiritual junkie and have not read this book - it should be on the list. My understanding of setting intentions has been completely altered and there was a fair few 'a-ha' moments in the pages.
8. BurlingtonON/Restaurants/TakeOut/Delivery Facebook group - I realize that every touch of food or delivery increases risk of transmission, but on my birthday - when I was unable to go out for dinner or see my family or friends, I was a real big fan of this Facebook group. Every restaurant who is available for delivery and all menus or websites are accessible and there are loads of conversations about what's open and when. Scaddabush Italian was the win that day, inclusive of the bottle of Valpolicella that nicely came along with it.
9. L'Oreal Root Touch Up - I would never suggest that anyone should make an unnecessary trip to Shoppers Drug Mart for "non-essential" items, putting themselves in harm's way, but if you're already going for say, Tylenol (which I hear is what you would use to drop a fever, for example), you might want to pick up a can of this brilliant root touch up, available in a variety of colours. If you can't decide if you're dark blonde or light blonde, hell just buy them both - you may become a combination of each of these choices soon anyways. It is temporary, washes out, and for the low, low price of $9.99, you can survive isolation and not torture your stylist with boxed colour.
10. The Shoe Post - This is quite possibly the greatest Facebook post I've seen in ages. If you are left brained centric, you see Teal and Grey. If you are right brain, Pink and White. According to the internet, the left brained people tend to be more analytical, logical and numerical and think in words and right brain tends to be creative and free thinking, intuitive and able to see the big picture. When I first looked at the picture, I could only see pink and white and was fascinated by everyone seeing green. Then after writing for a while, I looked at the photo again and I saw grey shoes with green laces. How crazy is that??! This led me to the question - depending on what activity you are doing and what side of your brain you are using, is there potential to change the way you see the picture? As I was writing and using language to "think in words", I was able to see the colours on the photo differently. Things that make you go hmmm.
The Shoe Post is a great analogy of this time.
History is being written as we stumble our way forward through good days and bad, highs and lows and elation and despair. In these difficult circumstances is where we need to look real hard to try and see both colours of the shoe.
Confined to the walls of my fondly named Paradise Prison, I am not in the same danger as many who are off to work in this time of need. Today, I'm grateful for the rainbow colour lights that shift on my essential oil diffuser that is wafting lemon-y peppermint as I press each key. I find myself thinking of others and understanding that while we are all in the same storm, we are not in the same boat and we each view this time through a very different lens.
***
In Prayer and Gratitude
I want to send love and prayers to all the first responders, those in service in our grocery stores, pharmacies or any operations still functioning helping us through this time. To those who are going to work with an increase risk of health, to those taking pay cuts to work harder with a smaller team, to those who have lost their revenue stream and to all those in between. To those trying to home school and online learn with their children while running zoom conferences in your bedrooms. To those scrolling through Indeed and LinkedIN trying to find work. To the seniors who are confined in homes and afraid to leave and all the adult children worried sick.
And to us all: Stay safe, be well and do your best to play the part you're given in this grand script with as much grace as possible.
Just think, Sage hand soap is on the other side of all this.
Just sayin'.
✨
History is being written as we stumble our way forward through good days and bad, highs and lows and elation and despair. In these difficult circumstances is where we need to look real hard to try and see both colours of the shoe.
Confined to the walls of my fondly named Paradise Prison, I am not in the same danger as many who are off to work in this time of need. Today, I'm grateful for the rainbow colour lights that shift on my essential oil diffuser that is wafting lemon-y peppermint as I press each key. I find myself thinking of others and understanding that while we are all in the same storm, we are not in the same boat and we each view this time through a very different lens.
***
In Prayer and Gratitude
I want to send love and prayers to all the first responders, those in service in our grocery stores, pharmacies or any operations still functioning helping us through this time. To those who are going to work with an increase risk of health, to those taking pay cuts to work harder with a smaller team, to those who have lost their revenue stream and to all those in between. To those trying to home school and online learn with their children while running zoom conferences in your bedrooms. To those scrolling through Indeed and LinkedIN trying to find work. To the seniors who are confined in homes and afraid to leave and all the adult children worried sick.
And to us all: Stay safe, be well and do your best to play the part you're given in this grand script with as much grace as possible.
Just think, Sage hand soap is on the other side of all this.
Just sayin'.
✨