Flannel Quarantine Diaries: Log Day 4
#COVID19 Social Distancing Log 03192020
Mood: Melancholy
Its been raining all day. Now I think it's starting to snow. Yay!
I think people are over-estimating their ability to be self-quarantined in their homes for longer than anticipated. This might be a well needed break for many, but this can be anxiety inducing for many, many more. It hasn't even been a week and I've been seeing posts from some of my friends who are starting to get pushed to their growing edges. Other's are posting positive and uplifting messages which is great. But, I think it's mostly to cover up the sheer terror folks are experiencing inside of them. No one has a clear vision of what this is going to look like on the other side.
Spending uninterrupted time with yourself and/or your family in your homes without distraction of after school activities and never ending professional responsibilities can start to reveal something about who you think you are and who you are in the world. The idea of essential employees has changed. They are now all the health care workers, public servants, service workers, grocery stock people, and the folks who continue to keep the grocery and medical supply chain going. The fear and flattening of a pandemic has revealed the breakdown of our social systems our structural systems in general. I can talk about the importance of competent leadership, but I'd be wasting my breath. I'm been talking about the importance of good governance for years. However, it isn't until our unwavering faith in the idea of, "what will be will be," isn't the best policy to protect the health and wellbeing of a nation. I've always been a fan of preventions and interventions. Because, now, over-reacting seems to be an appropriate way to respond to a highly contagious viral infection that can kill all of us.
Yes, staying home and keeping safe distances from others, and practicing impeccable hygiene will keep many of us alive. The byproduct of COVID-19 won't just be learning best practices and tactics to fighting a pandemic. The other byproduct will be our collective realization of what we once believed to be so important is either not as important as we thought it was or more important than we could have ever imagined. Your job. A handshake. A hug. Socializing. Toilet Paper.
Community and human connection is important. We are social creatures and even if you consider yourself to be a self-proclaimed introvert, you still long for human connection and a sense of belonging. My friends and family are very important to me and I assume others would feel the same. I have no relatives here in Rochester. I have created a large network of people, but I have a very small group of close friends in my inner circle who I would consider to be like family. Which was a huge reason I've been able to thrive in Rochester and chose to stay instead of moving far, far away. The world is changing. We are going into a recession. The last recession brought me to Rochester. It will be interesting to see where the next recession takes me.
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