Photo credit: Tracey Bowers-Lee
It’s hard to put into words what I’ve learned during this time of isolation.
Being tasked with answering this question is tough because so many things come to mind. Most in the form of questions and the answers are still unclear.
Uncertainty…
The whole world is virtually at a halt. Almost two million people worldwide have been infected with the coronavirus, and more than 150,000 people have died. How many more will die because of this virus?
Simple choices about what to touch, what to wear, where to walk, who should be going out, where we should go are all making us nervous. Will that ever change? Will we ever overcome the required paranoia we need to get through this pandemic?
The rules of physical hygiene are well established – washing your hands, staying six feet away, covering your face. Before this happened, were we practising good hygiene?
I, like many in society, have a controllable case of anxiety but it has been tested these past five weeks. Learning to – and trying to – come to grips that the world as we knew it five weeks ago will never be again, will be an adjustment.
All the short-term plans I was mentally preparing for have been cancelled or put on hold indefinitely.
Thinking about getting past the worst seems to be far away. Getting back to normal won’t be normal. Some people want to restart 2020. Looking back at the past short three months, I agree.
Catching up on news is becoming harder and harder to do.
The death and sadness around the world and right here in my community are depressing.
How will my mental health be affected?
In times of hardship, we always say the human race is resilient and strong. How resilient are we? Because this isn’t ending anytime soon, some say the worst hasn’t happened. How much more can we take?
What will getting through this look like?
Families that have lost their loved ones, how do they begin to heal when they have so many questions and emotions? When will they get the opportunity to find closure?
We grieve with them.
I believe even after the virus is gone the world will never be the same.
With everything on hold and the uncertainty of the future, I thank God every day for my family. The distraction my husband and kids give is the best prescription in helping reduce the stress of uncertainty.
Them and wine.
Oh, routine and structure too. Those help me look forward to my first glass at 5 p.m, wink, wink.
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