I think that no matter what you think of the current state of affairs, most of us have hit a state of troubled in the last few days. It is weird right now, guys… really weird. Most of us are trying to navigate circumstances that we’ve never seen before, and every day is a new adventure of changes. People are working from home while trying to ensure their kids are on task with school work from home. It is a lot to digest and it came on so quickly. I can honestly say my head is spinning, and I suspect most people are feeling this way right now.
With all of this, we have seen a lot of negativity in the last several days. It is somewhat a natural reaction to unprecedented change and hard times. I have gone from a state of untroubled, to troubled, to anxious, to angry, and on and on. Yesterday brought about a shift in thinking for me. I came to a spot where I started thinking heavily about what I can do to get through this, and how can I help others get through this. Today I am going to tell you my list of important things I am going to be armed with to get through this. It is not what you’d expect. I am not going to stockpile toilet paper and bathe in Lysol.
First and foremost, for me, now is a time to be kind and compassionate. EVERY SINGLE PERSON WE ENCOUNTER IS DEALING WITH A LOT RIGHT NOW. For the people in the back, that was EVERY SINGLE PERSON… right now is a time where I don’t think you can be too kind. Thank anyone who does something that makes your life easier. Thank the person who is working in the grocery store, because if they don’t go to work, the store might not be open, and we might not get food. Thank our firemen and police officers who are out ensuring public safety during a time when they are feeling as uncertain as we are. Thank healthcare workers and pharmacists for being on the front lines of this. Thank anyone who goes out of their way to make your life easier or better. Anyone who takes the time right now to check in on you is an angel, because they care about your needs and not just their own during tough times.
I am going to be self-aware and give myself a break. During times like this, I think it is okay to feel whatever you’re feeling. It is okay to be sad, anxious, scared, angry, hopeful, or any other emotion that you might be feeling. If you’re anything like me, you’ve felt all of these things to some degree every day in waves. Right now is not a time to get frustrated with ourselves for feeling all the feels. There is no wrong way to feel. There isn’t an instruction manual on how to handle this situation. It is okay, no matter what. Not only am I going to allow myself to feel whatever I am feeling, but I am willing to lend an ear to anyone who wants to talk, no matter where they are emotionally in the moment.
I am an empath and it can be challenging at times, but I am going to be empathetic right now. I am going to try to put myself in the shoes of others to understand them and what they are feeling better. When someone at the grocery store seems grumpy, instead of being upset, I will remind myself that they are dealing with a lot and are potentially being exposed to illness just by showing up to work every day. When someone seems panicked, I will seek to understand from their point of view.
I am going to find a way to connect more with people from a distance. For years, we have been using our technology to disconnect. We have all failed to be present at certain times. Right now, we have an opportunity to use our technology to actually connect with other people. We are so fortunate that we can practice social distancing and still stay connected. You can bet that things like FaceTime are going to be a bigger part of my life. If you need me this weekend, I will be drinking wine over a video chat with my friends. I am going to send pictures and videos of my quarantine adventures and I hope others will send them to me. I would absolutely love to see what you and your family are doing through all of this.
I am going to keep my sense of humor. I have been through some shit in my life and I have never managed to stop laughing. I will be damned if this situation is going to take away my humor. I will continue to send and post silly memes and try to laugh though this. I will try to be a source of laughs for my people.
So, to recap, my quarantine must haves are:
1. Kindness and compassion for others.
2. Self-awareness
3. Empathy
4. Connection
5. Humor
I truly believe that how we, as humans, handle this, matters. We need to take care of ourselves and each other. We cannot control what is happening, unfortunately. We can control how we react to it and that is what matters most. Let’s look out for each other. Let’s check in on each other. Let’s get through this and hopefully establish a new normal in the future. Enjoy your downtime for now, practice social distancing, wash your hands, and follow the CDC recommendations. I’ve got your six and I hope you have mine too.
Life Of Kristin: An Experiment in Creativity 