The Next Big Step….

So this isn’t going to be like my regular blogs. This blog will express my feelings during this quarantine time. It’s going to be 100 percent real and raw. And I will talk about the coronavirus. 

So these last few weeks in America have been pretty insane and almost unreal. The coronavirus has been spreading like crazy with the two worst states being New York and New Jersey. Grocery store employees, EMTs, nurses, and doctors have been putting their own lives on the line during this time to help others. The people who are able to work from home or are laid off are at home, rarely going out except to get the essentials. 

It’s almost like we are living in a movie. One where holidays, weddings, parties, and gatherings no longer exist. Which brings me to the point of this blog. People are having to postpone weddings or birthday celebrations because of the current condition of the world. Everyone is anxious and unsure of what the next few months will bring. 

About a month ago, my boyfriend Erich and I signed papers to move out into an apartment together. We had picked a complex that was right between his job and mine. It was a week and a half before things with the coronavirus got very serious and before staying home was required. This was my first time (besides college) living away from my mom. And Erich’s first time living away from his parents. This was supposed to be the most exciting time in our lives. We were going to decorate our place and make it a combination of both of our personalities. We were going to have friends and family over to celebrate. We were going to enjoy movie nights and game nights together. We were going to use the gym at the apartment complex to get in shape. We had some many hopes and dreams for our new life and our new place. 

But unfortunately, life had other plans for us. A few weeks into having our place, we both got laid off from our jobs due to the coronavirus. We were both feeling down, neither of us really expecting this to happen. We were both hardworking employees. But because of the closing of so many different places, there was a lack of work. These companies couldn’t afford to pay their employees while places remained closed. 

So we were down on our luck. We were disappointed. Our dreams were coming crashing down on us. But then we realized how many other people were going through the same exact thing. According to this article by the NY Times : (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/upshot/coronavirus-jobless-rate-great-depression.html)  , an estimated 13% of Americans are unemployed right now. This is the highest rate since the Great Depression! Please read the article for more information on this.

But my point is, we can sit here and be down on ourselves about how this time has been rough for us. Or we can make it positive for ourselves. So many people in America as well as other countries previously affected by the coronavirus, had to rearrange their lives because of the virus. So many plans are changing for the billions of people impacted by this virus. You aren’t alone. And you could sit here and be sad or angry that life has thrown this curveball at you. Or you can take this as an opportunity to embrace what you do have and what you can do during this time.

For example: I’m sad that Erich and I didn’t truly get to celebrate moving out yet. I’m sad that we can’t have friends/family over. And I’m mad that we both got laid off only a few weeks after moving out together. But am I going to sit here and sulk about it? No, I’m going to really enjoy my time with Erich. This has been a true test to our relationship. We are finding out each other’s habits. We are working out and cooking together. We are watching movies and playing board/video games together. I’m writing more than I ever had time to. And Erich is reading more than he ever could before. 

This is the time to have deep conversation phone calls with your friends and family. This is the time to explore hobbies that you always wanted to take up. You should truly spend time with the people you live with instead of just hiding in your room. Throw the frisbee around with your dog in your backyard. Learn another language. Or do home workouts that you’ve never done before. Now is the time to ask yourself. “What do I truly want out of life?”

Take this time to process and do all of these things because I promise, you will never have time like this again. You will never be home this much again. This is the time where you really have to accept, understand and love yourself. You will never be this in touch with yourself again. If there are things you want to improve about yourself, start today. 

I understand that these are rough times and we are all feeling down right now. But I have a couple friends that taught me that a little positivity goes a long way. So maybe you have to postpone your wedding a few months. It’s just a little bump in the road before a lifetime of being married. Sure it’s inconvenient and it’s stressful but if you and your partner truly love each other, then it shouldn’t matter when you get married, it should just matter that you have each other by your side. And maybe you can’t celebrate your birthday with friends and family this month. But you can treat yourself to your favorite tv show, make yourself your favorite meal or take a nice bath. 

Sure, Erich and I can’t have a party with friends and family to celebrate our apartment. But we can video chat friends/family and give them a virtual tour. And we can still decorate our place with what we have. And we can enjoy each other’s company. My point is, there is a positive to every situation. 

Of course you are allowed to be mad, anxious, or sad during this time. But don’t let it dictate your life. Feel that way for a little bit and then try to think of something you are thankful for. Or maybe call up a friend to help you cheer up. We all have to stick together. Maybe your mom will call you on a day that she’s feeling sad so you try to cheer her up. And then you call her on a day that you are feeling anxious and she will try to help you. Don’t let yourself be isolated. Call friends/family and check on them. Even sending a simple “How are you?” text to people can help make their day and your day. Even if you live alone, keep in contact with people. And even if you are unemployed, try to stick to a schedule. Get up at a certain time, work out at a certain time, do some reading at a certain time etc.

Stay positive and keep going because we will all get through this together. Stay home if you can. Wash your hands. And give thanks to those who are still going into work so that you can get your essentials. Let us all look forward to a time when we can have weddings, parties and gatherings again. 

Thank you for reading. Feel free to comment below a hobby you picked up or something that you have been doing to stay positive during this time.