Creating a sense of normalcy when life seems anything but normal

I celebrated my birthday last week by taking the afternoon off from work and kayaking on Lake Wisconsin with my husband and youngest daughter. We timed our outing pretty well and were able to enjoy a brief interlude of sunshine on an otherwise cloudy day. It was cool and breezy but paddling was manageable and the “tough” moments when moving against the wind felt invigorating—it just felt great to be outdoors and physically active. We were a quiet trio on an almost empty lake, not coming into contact with other people, enjoying a day that felt nearly “normal” during the unusual circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The time on the water made me feel energized and hopeful that I can endure another month of social distancing—if I have kayaking as my escape from the day-to-day monotony.