I love lists. It’s something I both adore about myself and exhaust myself with.

This morning, I felt inspired by a list I read yesterday: Two Hundred Fifty Things an Architect Should Know (Michael Sorkin). So here’s an unedited, uncoordinated list of 100 things I’ve observed/learned/remembered in quarantine (Because 250 felt like…ugh. A lot for this morning).

1. I despise reading books electronically.
2. Less is usually enough.
3. The same neighborhood walk-loop looks different each day.
4. The dogs are the real winners here.
5. I am still capable of throwing tantrums.
6. The reason my last name has no “w” in it isn’t what I thought.
7. Hugs are medicine.
8. Given the choice of a dozen breakfast options, I’d still choose fried eggs.
9. Cinnamon on fried eggs is REALLY good.
10. A Gentleman in Moscow (Amor Towles) might be my favorite book. Ever.
11. Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd), too.
12. Untamed (Glennon Doyle) also changed my life. (Ok. That’s it for books.)
13. I miss dinner parties.
14. I miss wandering the supermarket for fun.
15. I miss inviting people inside.
16. I don’t miss the yoga studio as much as I first did.
17. A home yoga practice isn’t as dreadful as I made it out to be for all of those yrs.
18. FaceTime is a saving grace.
19. FaceTime doesn’t replace face time.
20. Chocolate solves most problems.
21. Building new professional relationships over GVC is hard.
22. WFH forever freaks the sh*t out of me. [the concept]
23. Boundaries – worktime, space, relationships – are essential.
24. Flowers brighten up the house.
25. We all want to feel connected.
26. Many of us are truly living in our homes for the first time.
27. I don’t actually mind my toenails unpainted.
28. I miss the desert.
29. My grandparents are lonely.
30. “Marie Kondo-ing” your digital life is…exhausting + liberating.
31. No ability to plan into the future = forced presence.
32. Many people are struggling.
33. The impact of COVID will last…forever.
34. The new normal won’t be the same as the old…requiring more grieving.
35. Public space design will shift radically.
36. We are experiencing the same “thing” but we are each experiencing different things.
37. I love olive trees + white roses.
38. “COVID” is enough of an excuse for anything.
39. We can retell old stories and find more inner freedom.
40. Moving our bodies is really important. Any way. Some way.
41. California is [objectivly] the best place to SIP.
42. No one is taking vacation from work (if they’re employed).
43. Employed corporate America [+ here, tech] is going to face major burnout.
44. “How are you?” is a f*cked question.
45. “How are you (really)?” is better. Kind of.
46. I need a haircut.
47. I am sad about a lot of things.
48. I am happy about a lot of things.
49.  COVID is really making me look at all the things.
50. I am grateful for employment.
51. I wish bananas didn’t make me constipated.
52. I don’t like the color orange.
53. Linen is the world’s supreme fabric.
54. I’m having nature withdrawals.
55. English is a hard (so hard) language to learn/teach.
56. Cleaning out stuff sometimes makes me want more stuff. Ugh.
57. Grief is very stubborn.
58. Some days are harder than others.
59. We all need individual attention right now.
60. Humans are ridiculously adaptable.
61. Self care ≠ Self indulgence.
62. Laying on the ground outside solves many problems.
63. Pro sports / live music / college / dating / conferences / airports will never be the same again.
64. I can usually benefit from taking my own advice.
65.  We all benefit from valuing friendship + humor over most things.
66. Anticipation of suffering is usually worse than suffering itself.
67. Getting “dressed” for work in the AM can change the psychology of my day.
68. Documenting is therapeutic for me.
69. Living at my parents’ home is wonderful + exhausting.
70. The Sunday Review is the best section of the New York Times.
71. The animals of our world have no idea what’s going on.
72. It’s weird to see my pictures from “before” – crowds in Jerusalem, Rome, NYC.
73. The world screeched to a stop, but our lives ached as we slowed.
74. We might miss things about this time…when this time becomes that time.
75. I remember the “lasts” from before COVID quite clearly. Last yoga class. Last time at a store. Last hug from a stranger.
76. I miss the ease of pre-COVID public spaces.
77. When we have all the time in the world, the connections we keep / let slip can say volumes.
78. My responses are my responsibility. Repeat.
79. “How can I become more FREE today? How can I FREE others?” are good / helpful questions.
80. Even w/ all my privileges / advantages, this is hard.
81. No one but you is keeping score on your life.
82. Eat the frog.
83. Making plans is ok as long as you’re ok w/ changing them all.
84.  Flexibility and indecision are not the same.
85. I miss the hot food bar at Whole Foods.
86. We don’t always need to explain ourselves.
87. I miss the mountains.
88. I miss hugging my friends.
89. Social media can be whack.
90. Sleep solves so many problems.
91. I love wearing sundresses.
92. Writing cards + letters is important. People love snail mail. (No, you can’t get COVID thru mail…right?)
93. Our president is a buffoon.
94. Underserved populations and people of color are disproportionately affected by this crisis.
95. Old actions can be repeated w/ new meaning.
96. We are not entitled to our lives.
97. We never know. But the opposite is also true: We always know.
98. “Should” is such an unhelpful word.
99. I am scared the world will never look the same again.
100. I am thankful the world will never look the same again.