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Andrea and Martin Ring take a selfie during one of their long walks in the frigid Saskatchewan winter. Facebook/Martin Ring
Smelling the roses

Appreciating what we have during cold and COVID times

Feb 14, 2021 | 11:38 AM

It’s been almost a full calendar year since we’ve all had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and our lives have turned upside down.

At one point, the most valuable resource on planet earth was a roll of toilet paper. Sweatpants have gone from being a nice thing to own to an absolute necessity, and a once little-known app called Zoom is now used nonchalantly for all video call conversations.

But as our lives have changed, so have we.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I found myself thinking about all the things I couldn’t do—like go to a crowded sporting event, and a crowded bar afterward. I couldn’t go back to Ontario to see my family.

But now, I have a newfound appreciation for a lot of what I do have, and what I am able to do.

I now look forward to coming home and putting on my super comfy slippers I bought for myself as a Christmas present—a phrase I never thought I would write about myself. I love the smell emitting from my slow-cooker while I wait for it in my warm, cozy apartment. I look around my apartment and realize how lucky I am to live in it, and still be able to pay the bills while so many people have not had that luxury. And I love how I can share all my little victories with my fiancée.

I challenged the rest of the newsroom to come up with a few lines about what they’ve found a new appreciation for, and how their perspective has changed throughout this pandemic– a newly-found gratitude board, if you will. We’re not professionals in this regard, we’re just sharing our journeys in the hopes it can help others.

If you have some new perspectives to share, comment on our Facebook page.

Glenn Hicks, news director

Walking the dog has always been about more than exercising the limbs and olfactory senses of our four-legged friends. While it’s sometimes a chore, the human can get something out of it too: an opportunity to get moving after a day at the office or perhaps to clear or refocus the mind.

But in these challenging times, my daily walk with Coco after work has recently become so much more and I find myself increasingly looking forward to it.

It becomes the powerful acknowledgment that I am still free to get and out about amid the all-consuming messages of lockdown and social restriction. It helps dilute my sense of isolation while also reminding me there are many people who have been stranded indoors for months.

Suddenly the nod or the ‘good evening’ to fellow pedestrians carries additional weight… and relief.

Teena Monteleone, director of information programming

After sulking for a while, especially after hockey was canceled and restrictions prevented us from inviting others into our homes, I experienced a mind shift. I recognized that I can’t control the pandemic, I can only control how I react to it. Rather than being upset about what I couldn’t do or where I couldn’t go, I realized what I was able to do and the new things I have been trying.

I started appreciating the little things a whole lot more. Little Red River Park and the Kinsmen Ski Hill, for example, have been a huge source of entertainment for my family. It takes me 10 minutes to get to the ski hill and my kids can spend hours there for an extremely cheap fee and hang out at Knotty Pine Bistro for some poutine when they need a break. It’s a fantastic facility right in our own backyard.

Being forced to stay home has also forced me to explore my craft and culinary skills. I recently refurbished two end tables with some expert advice and supplies from a local store in Prince Albert – Eclectic Upcycled Furniture and Décor on Central Ave. It’s inspired other friends to try their hand at a DIY project too.

I recently purchased an air fryer with rotisserie and have started to enjoy cooking. Also – a heated blanket that I bought my son for Christmas has now become an unexpected source of comfort I didn’t know I needed. That heated blanket and shows like Bridgerton and Yellowstone have kept me going. Lol.

Nigel Maxwell, senior reporter

For me, the biggest impact from COVID has been what it’s done to my mental and physical health. In some ways, I think it’s helped give me the push I need to make better lifestyle choices. In the past month, I’ve started a virtual exercise program. I’ve also rediscovered my love for reading and try to dedicate 20 mins each night to pick up a book. I’ve found it’s a great way to calm my brain before bed. I have also developed a new interest in baking.

Ian Gustafson, editor

I’ve been fortunate enough to be more thankful for a few things throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Being able to hop online and play video games on my PlayStation 4 has been something I’ve done for fun for a while but because of the pandemic, I’ve looked forward to it more because it’s one of few ways I’ve been able to see and interact with my friends since we can’t see each other in person.

I’ve also found myself excited to get home and make one of my favourite meals and watch a movie. Or spending quality time with my roommates and their cats. It’s something I’ve taken for granted because before the pandemic we didn’t always have time to do that.

Trevor Redden, voice of the Prince Albert Raiders on CKBI

First of all, I’m extremely grateful to have stayed employed through all of this, so having work to keep me busy through the week and a regular paycheque has been huge. We became homeowners in 2020 so the house has given us lots to focus on, and we’ve put some exercise equipment in the gym so that’s been a good way to stay active without having to deal with the cold.

I’ve really enjoyed having this time at home during the winter that normally I wouldn’t have had. I’ve read a few books, and McKenzie and I have done a lot of cooking, playing cards, and different games, and watched a few shows. Definitely missing the regular work life, seeing coworkers more frequently and all the people you see at the rink and on the road, and of course missing my family too. But for perspective, I think just knowing what some people have gone through and how difficult this year has been for so many, I’m grateful for all I have and the time I’ve been able to spend in the comfort of my home with my wife.

Martin Ring, colour commentator for Prince Albert Raiders radio on CKBI

Obviously, walking during COVID has certainly become a go-to activity just to get my mind off things. I’ve learned to walk past Andrea’s “Puzzle Table” without picking up a couple of pieces and putting them in place while she’s sitting there searching for a piece to fit. Really miss this winter going to the rink, having my mocha and seeing all of the Raider faithful, and then preparing for one of the jabs from Habby [Raiders head coach Marc Habscheid] during the postgame show. Really missing the socializing with family and friends but especially time with our 23-month-old granddaughter, things that we just took for granted before!

Alison Sandstrom, reporter

Like I think many people, I’ve found a lot of solace in my kitchen during the pandemic. I’ve always liked cooking, but it’s become a much bigger part of my life during the past 11 months. I have several kitchen projects on the go, and in between trying new recipes, I’ve had the opportunity to rethink my relationship to making food.

While in the past, preparing a really nice meal was something I did to share with friends or loved ones, now its also an expression of care I do for myself.

I make a full brunch spread nearly every weekend just for me, something I would have probably thought was a waste of time before. And though I spent Christmas alone for the first time this year, the huge Christmas dinner I ate every meal afterwards for the next three days was a highlight.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW

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