Thanksgiving is looking a lot different this year. With another lockdown underway and COVID-19 restrictions looming large, there is understandably a lot more focus on what we can’t do—like host a big dinner—than on how much pumpkin pie we plan to eat.
While it’s essential that we all make choices to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe, that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Still, there is much to be thankful for. In fact, I've been thinking, lately, about how the pandemic has increased my appreciation for what I believe are the most important things: family, health, and my goals as I look toward the future. This reflection has led to a list of “COVID life hacks,” or things I want to keep in the forefront of my mind even after we get back to a new normal.
I want to dedicate more time to the people I love. I want to prioritize my physical and mental well-being in big and small ways—eating toasted tomato sandwiches for lunch, watching the bird feeder, and playing “fetch the stuffed mouse” with Arthur, the stray cat I’ve been nursing back to health since April. Ultimately, I want to be content with less, focused on my relationships with myself, the people who mean the most to me, and the natural world.
I encourage McGill students to join me in taking stock of your lives and pondering the things that bring you real joy. Yes, that upcoming assignment or exam is important, but so is the bigger picture. Education is one pillar of many in a purposeful, balanced life, and now is the perfect time to consider what you have and what you can do to get closer to that ideal.
I’m grateful for all of you, and wish you and your families—both blood and chosen—a wonderful Thanksgiving.