New Normal
7.04.20
COVID-19, social distancing, coronavirus- these are all words I am sure none of us hardly used prior to three months ago. Heck, it’s likely none of these words were a part of our vocabulary! I still can’t tell you what a COVID is, and until recently, I was convinced Corona was an adult beverage. However, in this age, Corona has been so much more.
It’s crazy how something as small as a virus came through like a thief in the night and changed out lives forever. This is an experience we will never forget. Unemployment rates are at an all-time high. People have been forced out of their homes. Businesses have closed. People have lost their loved ones, and weren’t event afforded the opportunity to properly say goodbye. On top of all that, never would I have imagined it would be ok to wear a face mask in public places.
In the beginning, I thought this would all quickly blow over. Don’t get me wrong, I recognize the seriousness of the pandemic and try my hardest to take precaution. I just thought that by May, and if not, surely by June, everything would be back to normal. Boy, was I wrong. At this very moment, it feels more like we are back at square one.
For anyone dealing with severe health issues like autoimmune disorders, chronic pain, respiratory conditions, and even mental health disorders, my heart goes out to you. I can relate to those with overwhelming thoughts- Can I fight this? Is it even safe for me to leave my house? I know someone will agree when I say the stress of it all is worse than the virus. Believe me, I know how you feel.
This pandemic has been quite the challenge for me. I thought I was going to go crazy being in the house before the shutdown, as I was not able to get out much due to my disorder. Depending on how I was feeling on any particular day, I would go visit with family and tried to do other small things like getting my hair and nails done, or grab a bite to eat here and there; anything to distract me from the way I was feeling. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to do those things since the onset of the pandemic.
I try to keep it all together no matter how I am feeling, Unless you really know me, you’d never know what I truly go through. I try not to burden others with my feelings nor complain. However, it’s gotten harder for me to hold myself together, causing me to even have had a few breakdowns. Of course I try to hide it though, cry to myself, dry my tears, and appear to everyone else as if I am ok, knowing full well that’s not my reality. I haven’t really visited with family much and everyone only ever seems to talk about the virus, which is discouraging. I'm also almost certain my most recent flare ups were brought on by stress. Even though I can’t enjoy the company of my extended family or get a much needed manicure right now, I try to read, watch TV and pray as much as I can to take my mind off it all. Sadly, some of my favorite shows have been cancelled because of COVID. Nonetheless, there is only so much TV a girl can watch. I promise y’all, I could go work as a detective for the First 48 at this point.
While it may be easy for you to fight off COVID symptoms. Some of your loved ones may not be as lucky. With this in mind, please try to respect other’s wishes and their feelings. Some of their requests may seem outlandish, but this is new territory for us all, and for some of us, COVID is one more thing to consider in conjunction with the health concerns we already face.
For those of you who are able, try not to take for granted being able to get out a little. Take a car ride, ride a bike, or go for a walk because some people can’t even do those things. I can’t tell you the last time I’ve even entered a grocery store. And right now, a trip to Walmart sounds like an all-expensive paid vacation!
As crazy as this may seem, for some of us, COVID has been a blessing. It’s given people more time for rest and self-care. Often times, we get so wrapped up in our everyday routines- going to work, transporting the children wherever they need to go, and maintaining our homes- that we neglect ourselves. This has allowed people time to just stop, to rest, or spend much-needed time with their children. Relationships have been rekindled and many have taken time to think through things that have been pushed to the back of their minds for so long.
This pandemic has been difficult for all of us. We are all trying to adapt to a new normal, while also trying to stay safe in the process. One of my favorite sayings has helped me remain encouraged: God will not put more on us than we can bear. And if we abide by safety standards being established, stay in as much as possible, wear face coverings and pray, we will get through this sooner than we think.