Back to Big Bear: Making the Most of the Pandemic
Lazy, languid, and lethargic. Those are the best words to describe my trip to Big Bear back in October 2020 during the pandemic. Coincidentally, it’s also the best way to describe the start of January 2023.
Back in 2020, it felt weird to travel at all. Especially after trying so hard (and succeeding) to overcome cabin fever, as we all settled into the new normal of the pandemic and its resulting quarantine.
NOTE: This is a post inspired by #FlashbackFriday, where I reminisce about my past experiences for nostalgia, and also to practice my (rusty) writing skills. The events, prices, and other details mentioned are not necessarily accurate when reading. It’s best to assume the events, prices, and other details are from my previous personal experience unless I state otherwise that it is accurate at the time of writing.
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Social distancing at Big Bear during a pandemic
So when we thought of a mini-getaway, Big Bear was at the top of our list. It was both the most convenient and most attractive location on our list, where my husband and I could comply with social distancing, plus the physical distance itself wasn’t detrimental.
Plus around that time, we were just barely scratching the surface of what was essentially pandemic fatigue & collective trauma, so in retrospect, I’m glad we took that trip when we did.
Sometimes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
It sounds like just another cheesy saying, but being able to literally and metaphorically stretch our legs on that trip really did help us better cope with having to stay at home after, due to the surge of other variants.
As of January 2023, we’ve traveled out of town to see family several times, and even flew out of state once, since that almost desperate trip to Big Bear.
I’m hoping that this is the year we would be able to finally travel outside the country (no thanks to visa issues and paperwork backlog), but I’m trying to not get my hopes up until it’s a sure thing.
Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst
If the pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that even the best-laid plans can get tossed out the window, and sometimes, there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it.
I guess what I’m trying to say (but also brace myself for) is that while I have a lot of plans & hopes for 2023, ultimately I’m not sure what’s going to happen.
I recently rediscovered my early dreams of traveling, so that’s something I would love to be able to do this year. Whether that’s to a different state or a different country, I’m trying my best to look forward to it, regardless. Though I know which I’d prefer.
But one thing I know for sure is that I won’t take the ability (and luxury) of being able to travel, after almost 3 years of being in a pandemic.
I was thinking of how I can best move forward this year, in terms of goals and growth as a person in 2023. Which of course meant that I had to remember what I’ve done and where I’ve been in the past, metaphorically & literally. This is why my mind went to our Big Bear trip, and how different & scared I was for that, compared to my recent trip to Seattle.
But I also realized the downsides and disappointments of planning to move forward, and then just… not being able to.
The importance of moving sideways in these trying times
Pandemic aside, there have been a lot of times when I’ve mentally & emotionally beat myself up for not being able to move forward – whether it was true or not.
I felt disappointed with myself if I was not where I thought or planned to be, which I realize can be a downward trend for me so I try to keep it in check. Not always so successfully, I’ll admit. But it’s only recently with this introspection and the benefit of hindsight that I’ve come to realize:
Moving sideways is better than not moving at all.
It sounds so obvious (duh), but I used to be unhappy with myself anyway. In my mind, it was: move forward, or not at all. Preferably, move forward perfectly – yes, unhealthy standards and -10/10, would not recommend.
But in all honesty, being able to go on a few short trips like the one to Big Bear beats the alternative: wasting the past 3 years moping, anticipating, and being disappointed about not being able to make one big trip thanks to the pandemic.
Those little sideways moves, where I got to travel somewhere even if it wasn’t a dream location of mine acted as a balm to me, mentally & emotionally speaking.
Don’t get me wrong, I knew I was happy before, during, and after those short trips. But it wasn’t until recently that I connected and realized how much they’ve ultimately helped to keep the massive disappointment of a missed homecoming at bay.
So here’s a cheer for moving sideways! I’m learning to recognize the importance of accomplishing smaller goals along the way to bigger dreams.
Pandemic fatigue or not, life goes on, so we need to learn to keep moving as well.
Finally, I know it’s a little late but I wish everyone reading this a Happy New Year’s! Let’s all hope for a bright & exciting 2023.
