Mar 30

Mar 30 A Lesson from Coronavirus Quarantine

This period of quarantine and social distancing has us reflecting a lot about how, where, and with whom we spend our time, especially now that so many of our decisions are no longer our own. Like everyone else, we’re adjusting to a new normal that on some days feels like the old normal, and on other days feels like time ill spent.

We’re learning a lot about what motivates us, what keeps us feeling like ourselves, and what we need to ride out this crisis. Above all else, we’re lucky enough to be healthy right now. And one of the biggest lessons we’ve learned during this COVID quarantine is coincidentally the theme for our second Impact Day as Keep Nature Wild ambassadors: bloom where you’re planted.

We actually referenced this concept in our first-ever blog post. It’s what Meredith did when she first stepped on a SUP, looking for an outlet in a time of personal struggle.

We think blooming where you’re planted means making the best of the situation and the environment you’re in - whatever and wherever that might be. It means creating a space that allows you to be the best version of yourself, especially when you don’t feel like you are. It should look different for everyone, but the end result is the same: gratitude for the current space you occupy.

So, how are we currently blooming where we’re planted? Many of us are very literally rooted in one spot right now and that got us thinking about what we could do to make our surroundings a better place for us both mentally and physically.

We took a look around at our current confines and realized the answer was no further than our backyard. Actually, our alley to be specific. We pick up trash on our paddles and during our hikes, so why not our alley too? It’s sorely needed.

It might sound silly to say that we have one of the ugliest, dirtiest alleys in the neighborhood. Who cares what your alley looks like, right? Well, we do. We care that there’s leftover scraps of garbage that didn’t quite make it in the trash truck. We care that there are shards of glass running down the middle of the lane and recycling bins lying on their sides and mounds of leaves and dirt so old that they’ve taken root in the pavement. We care because this environment breeds rats. We care because that trash will eventually find its way into our river. We care because we walk our dog through the alley and see dogs playing fetch in it. We care because we watch kids ride their bikes down it and families walk together there. It’s an extension of our neighborhood, especially now as people get out for fresh air and try to maintain social distancing.

So, this weekend, we decided to dedicate our Impact Day cleanup to making our alley a better place for ourselves and our neighbors. First, we walked up and down the alley collecting trash, microplastics, cigarette butts, and the bigger shards of glass with our trash pickers. Then, we swept up the smaller glass and broken bits of mirror into piles and collected them in a dustpan. Then, we got to work on the piles of leaves and mounds of dirt. We picked up the discarded recycling bins and trash cans, moving them out from the middle of the lane, dumping water off of their tops, and closing the open lids.

It took us about two hours total and the end result was so satisfying. It even inspired us to take a look at our own backyard to optimize the space as we spend more time here in our quarantine.