LESSONS FOR LIVING IN ISOLATION

I received an email recently from a woman experiencing shelter-at-home who read my posts on dealing with conflicts during Covid-19. In her message she stated, “surely, no one has ever had to deal with this before.” 

I was struck by that comment since there is a fine line between forced and voluntary isolation. At about that same time, I saw a news item featuring an interview with a nun who has been socially distancing with seventeen other nuns for 29 years. The cloistered sisters live in a walled-off monastery and only leave the grounds for medical reasons or when shopping for a specific item. Under such conditions, the nuns can go for months without leaving the grounds.

Of course, even in a monastery tensions and conflicts can arise. In the interview the sister shared their experiences for living in isolation. There is much to learn from her comments. First, she recommends maintaining a daily schedule. Second, practice listening to and learning from those you are with. The less we focus on ourselves and how the world is affecting us, the more we can appreciate and understand others. Third, set aside uninterrupted personal time for exercise, mediation, reading or a hobby.

More time at home with others is a wonderful time to practice honest and true listening. Take time to really listen to hear the person when they explain how they are experiencing the world. That one skill can do more to reduce conflicts than any other.