The term “Social Distancing” seems kind of ironic given the technological era that we live in which makes it nearly impossible to distance ourselves socially. Technology today allows us to not only never have to step outside of our homes again but it also allows us to still be the very social beings that humans instinctively are. Always having access to email, text messaging, Social Media platforms or being able to Facetime someone on the other side of the world any time of day gives us the opportunity to always stay social and can also allow us to stay connected to one another. Oh and the best part is that we never have to feel like we are missing out on each other’s lives.
Because right now we are physically missing out on each other’s lives more than ever and being able to stay socially connected during a time of “Social Distancing” makes everything feel a little less scary. Would you agree?
Just a few short months ago my husband was working for a company which is owned and operated in China. When the Coronavirus first hit China, several employees in his office were frequently travelling back and forth from there for both business and pleasure. The virus was still so new, so uncertain and seemingly so far away from this side of the world but precautions were immediately put into place and employees returning from China were being asked to stay home for a week and then eventually two.
But still it seemed so far out of our reach and not so serious, especially when the employees coming back from China didn’t seem too phased by what was happening just more inconvenienced and bothered than anything else for being told to self quarantine.
So for me and probably millions of others who continued to go about their normal daily routines, just keeping one eye on the news reports, but feeling no real sense of urgency thousands of miles away; suddenly all that changed in what felt like the blink of that same eye that had been passively watching the news from a world away.
I wrote a blog just ten short days ago on March 7, 2020 titled “Should I Add It To My List?” where I mentioned how I was not allowing the Pandemic to get the better of me even after it was declared a “Global Pandemic”. I already have enough stress, overwhelm and anxiety in my life to sink a ship but I wasn’t worried about contracting the virus or that my loved ones would either and I didn’t run out panic buying toilet paper or concerning myself with all the fake news reports I was reading but as you know a lot has changed since I wrote that blog.
The world is literally changing minute by minute now, right before our eyes and with each passing moment there is more and more cause for concern, more and more uncertainty and more and more desperation. But it wasn’t until I saw the devastation unfold in Italy that it truly made this feel so real as to how quickly things can go from bad to beyond imaginable.
I am feeling more and more helpless and completely unfocused or motivated with each passing moment and yes I have tried to turn away from the news but it’s like watching a horror movie when you try to look away but you find yourself hiding under the blanket with one eye peering out from under it; I know I’m not alone in feeling this way. The devastation our world is in right now is alarming, disappointing and yes it’s downright inconvenient to billions around the globe and not to mention right in our own backyard.
Because of the uncertain state of the world right now my youngest daughter is at home instead of enjoying her March Break with her friends on her Grade 12 Graduation trip they had been planning for their entire High School career and what’s even worse than that, with all this uncertainty going on will she even be able to attend her Prom or walk across the stage to receive her High School Diploma in June?
And this devastation has left many people unable to work, many possibly unable to pay bills or put enough food on their table because businesses are closing their doors and nobody can really say for how long at this point. And if you’re in search of a job right now all together as my husband is, well that just adds a whole other set of uncertainty and fear into the mix.
We are all dealing with so many mixed emotions and so much uncertainty, inconvenience and disappointment are among those emotions that we are dealing with but it’s perfectly okay to feel them all. We are only human after all; angry, frightened humans.
But today I also find myself wondering if the world will ever be able to bounce back from this, will we ever fully recover like we have with other Pandemics (all without the aid of social media), will life as we once knew it ever be the same again? Well maybe it’s better if it’s not, maybe if we are lucky enough, when this is all over, we will be left with a gentler, kinder and more united world to live in. It’s St. Patrick’s Day after all, so let’s all go searching today for that four leaf clover in a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow and make a darn good wish when you find it!
I have anxiety over just about everything, I mean jeewhiz, my anxiety even has anxiety! There are very few moments in my day where I don’t feel some type of anxiety or even worse; panic. I’ve seriously had 2 anxiety attacks already today and I haven’t even gotten out of bed yet, but then why is it that I seem to feel nothing when it comes to the worldwide pandemic surrounding the Coronavirus.
I’ve got some friends who have some pretty serious fears when it comes to contracting the virus and maybe since it’s actually surfaced right in our neighbouring communities their fears are very valid and legit, yet still I don’t seem to be concerned.
I watch the news and see people stockpiling toilet paper and bottled water just in case there’s the slim chance that they are quarantined. We will still have running water in our home if that happens though, won’t we? And seriously how much toilet paper do you really think you will need? Not that I have to worry since Rich already has a secret obsession with buying toilet paper so I know we will always have enough!
Boy, whoever thought I’d be the rational one of the bunch, giving advice to others on how to stay calm. I didn’t know I had the ability to stay calm about anything. But here I am as calm as can be, not listening to “fake news”, (unless it’s coming from Trump’s mouth because that’s more for the entertainment value) and just sticking to reliable sources of information instead.
Wash your hands with soap and water lots, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth (which is really hard to actually do if you start to consciously think about it), avoid contact with sick people and if you feel sick stay the fuck home! All common sense everyday habits that have applied to help prevent the spread of many flu’s and viruses since the beginning of time.
Maybe I should have more anxiety and panic about the Coronavirus but maybe I don’t because maybe deep down inside my illness would welcome a two week quarantine, I mean it doesn’t sound all that bad, does it!
YouAreEnough 
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