This is my personal stream of consciousness rather than an article per se. I’m hoping that it will resonate with anyone who needs to hear that these types of thoughts aren’t just in their own minds and lives. We truly are in this together.
Some of us:
- feel guilty for having work and food when others do not.
- see friends and family losing money trying to keep businesses alive in a struggling industry.
- are grateful for having a job, yet also feel stuck in a holding pattern or worry about ending up a casualty of the pandemic.
- need to get away from the job, the kids, the significant other, even the dog (don’t judge), and there’s nowhere to go.
- wish for people to “want to get away from,” instead of facing terrible loneliness.
- worry about those close to us who could lose their lives if they contract the virus.
- hope, but are unsure that vaccinations will fix everything.
- know we’re strong, yet wonder why we don’t feel that way.
- see our children start to emotionally and intellectually crack doing online schooling, even though we know it’s best to stay home.
- feel the strain on our relationship(s), hoping we’ll make it through to the other side.
- wish we could see a counselor or confidant without having it be another zoom call.
- try to fill these new holes with food, cocktails, shopping, etc., yet nothing really works.
- want to throw a brick through the TV because we’re tired of going back to it time and time again.
- are just plain weary.
And don’t get me started on jigsaw puzzles (or what this pandemic has been like for someone minutes away from “the change”)!
Thanks for listening to my reflections – I know they are just the tip of the iceberg. I challenge us all to be brave and compassionate, and let’s be open to share and listen to one another.