I’m stuck in North Carolina and can’t travel to Florida to see my family and friends.
Community: Not Connected to a Healthier Together Community
Together Always
My wife, daughter and I spend more time together than ever. Reason being, is that we work together and now with the cancellation of school, my daughter spends the days at work with us. The coronavirus pandemic has not been all bad.
Gone too soon….
I am use to staying home, even during weekends (prior to covid 19). The quarantine part was not that difficult to adhere to. I know for a fact what has impacted me emotionally and psychologically the most…the social distancing, not able to go to church, visit family in New York, but most of all is hearing of close relatives and friends in New York City/New Jersey whom have lost a loved one. I have a very close friend who lost her husband and younger brother all in a month. It is just all too surreal… the massive amounts of lives gone all too soon.Those precious first responders, especially in major cities. All of this seems like a 9/11 tragedy repeating itself (one I survived), as a worldwide pandemic attack.
I Needed to Change
Aside from losing my job and having anxiety on and off, from the fear of catching the virus, I have been doing quite well. We have only spent money on food and supplies. Its surprising how much frivolous spending we used to do. I have had more time to be with my family and to work on myself. I have been doing yoga, writing, and reflecting. I am committed to continuing the healthy habits I am cultivating. My heart hurts for everyone who has suffered from this virus. I believe that it is our duty, to those that have and are suffering, to come out of this as better, kinder people.
Trying to be still with the virus
The corona virus has impacted my life in many ways:1. I was supposed to have surgery on April 22,2020 to help repair my vision, but it was postponed.2. My daughter now has to do therapy sessions at home with masks on.3. I am also not able to work because due to risk of being infected or infecting my client.4. My family is also affected by the corona virus because everyone is feeling overwhelmed.
The unexpected disaster
The corona virus has impacted my life through many ways:1. It stopped me from selling T-shirts because I am entrepreneur2. It stopped me from going to the gym and working out3. It stopped me from dining in at my favorite restaurants4. It affected my entertainment because celebrities aren’t able to gather together to create content5. It affected me and my girlfriend birthday, because we weren’t able to celebrate how we wanted to6. It made me more conscious of who I am around and increased my disinfecting skills7. Having to wear masks to go to common place areas like grocery stores, etc.8. Makes me feel sad to see people around the world struggle with the virus and thankful that me and my loved ones haven’t been in contact with it,
The Great Depression
This epidemic has made me realize to not take anything for granted. My life has been changed. Im unemployed, and very sad
Coffee shop anxiety
I sometimes work at a coffee shop for family friends on the weekends. I worked this past Sunday to help out over worked owners and staff. A lot of the other staff members have decided not to come into work because they are too afraid of getting sick and not being able to support their family. I am usually a really friendly and happy person, always focused on customer service. But I found myself really anxious the entire shift and I felt angry at customers for coming in. This anxiety lingered with me for several days to the point where I had to lay in bed for the entire next day. Thank you to every single service worker right now. I hope that there is mental health support specifically for service workers right now.
Cherishing Life of Yesterday While Living The New Norm
My oldest living relative is my Great Aunt Eleanor who is 104. She has seen so much in her life. Her mom had a sister in the early 1900’s who died from the Spanish Flu and her father and sister also had this. The doctor told her mom that she could only save one and that the baby would die. Thankfully the baby (my grandmother) survived. Eleanor still lives independently and is normally very capable, however recently she fell and broke her wrist and ribs. After coming out of rehab she needed help at home. This was the same time that the Coronavirus started. The facility where she lives has gotten increasing tighter on who can and can’t enter. I was helping her get her mail, shower, do laundry, get dressed, among other things. Due to the Coronavirus, I now have to use hand sanitizer, fill out a questionnaire, and have my temperature taken to enter the facility. Just the other day I heard that someone at the facility was tested for Covid-19, but the results haven’t come back. These poor residents are no longer allowed out of their apartments, can no longer eat with their friends, play cards, sing together, play bingo, go to the movie theater, or any of the other myriad things they love to do. I pray for the sake of these seniors that we can quickly get back to life as they knew it.
2020 When the World Stopped Spinning So Fast
It seems we have fallen down a rabbit hole into some other dimension. Watching the world suffer from a distance and feeling like it is never going to end. My son is missing out on the end of 5th grade, safety patrol trip to Washington D.C., his spring soccer season, and just his regular daily routine. I am fortunate to be able to work from home, but Ive become a teacher, guidance counselor, recess playmate, and lunch lady too. I am not complaining about one moment, my cousins 24 year old normally healthy son is on a ventilator in Ohio and we are praying everyday for him to be healed.I have had more phone calls and texts from people that keeping up with was too easy to over look. In some ways it makes me ashamed but then I realize we are all in the same boat.