We’re in day 40-something of quarantine, somewhere between Sunday and Saturday and based on the rain outside, it must be April maybe May. We’re all experiencing this storm known as COVID-19 together. Though our experiences with this virus will differ, there is no doubt that this pandemic has been very taxing on our mental health. I put my faith in God, so when the lay-off came… and it did, I didn’t make decisions in fear. I was able to qualify for unemployment and all of my needs are being met. However, it is still stressful because we are still waiting and watching. We’re watching healthcare workers mourn patients lost to this virus; we’re waiting for stimulus checks. We waiting for numbers of recovery and loss along with updates from our local and federal governments. We are waiting for vaccines and treatment plans from doctors and researchers. This wait is filled with erratic, sleep patterns, Netflix binges, new recipes, Zoom meetings, e-learning and of course prayer.

The stresses are different but real; I have family who are essential workers and are fighting this enemy in the Emergency room. Parents are having to re-learn or in some cases learn news subjects so they can teach their kids now students. Families are stressed and feel betrayed by their government because they haven’t received a promised stimulus check because a US citizen married a non-citizen. Individuals are stressed about rent payments, food and toilet paper (I still don’t understand this one) and PPE, the once reserved abbreviations for medical personal, now used in daily conversation and in every COVID19 update. PPE will soon have it’s own entry into Merriam Webster.

But with all of the stresses, there are some silver linings in this pandemic. Personally, I believe that this huge disruption is to get our attention and refocus our energies, which could help with our healing and mental health. Prior to the corona virus, there were individuals who were contemplating a career change; (working 50+ hours a week and unhappy) families were colour coded schedules filled with “good mornings, we’ve gotta go and I love you’s” as we brushed past each other to tackle the next task. People feeling unfulfilled and needing more…needing God but allowed fear, work, sports and excuses to get in the way of making scary but necessary changes. This virus has forced us to face some pre-COVID 19 societal and personal issues but post-COVID 19… there will be so many unanswered questions and issues that will need to be addressed, and we have to be aware and prepared for that. Meaning, we will need therapy, healthy ways of coping with this trauma. We will need a support system from the individual all they way to a global level and of course we will need God.

Now, I know this a bit of a detour for Style by Syraluna but it is what I needed to address.

Stay Safe and lots of Love.