Checking In, Friends.

Hello Friends,

What a time to be alive. I have been self-isolated since March 6 due to circumstances beyond my control and let me tell you, it has been interesting.

My job is in social media for a pancreatic cancer nonprofit so I have been watching the COVID19 virus take hold across the world for some time (early January). When all of this started life was pretty normal, by the end of February I was trying to manage family health issues. When March rolled around I was wondering if my son would be able to get home from his study aboard program in London. (He’s home and is missing the Big Smoke.)

I truly haven’t had much desire to write, but now find that it brings me comfort and I am hoping to do something small every day – whether it is something amusing/silly, or what is helping me stay sane as I work from home (which I have done for almost 20 years) while dealing with long-distance worrying over family and friends.

These little additions could be as simple as a quote I found particularly meaningful, musings on life, or things I find online that my family will probably roll their eyes at, but gave me a chuckle or pushed me to read further.

I believe it is the little things that will get us through this pandemic. A friend asked me about businesses carrying on and my thoughts on it. I believe it’s a good thing, y’all. We are all literally locked in our homes unless we are a essential employee and there are days I feel the walls closing in on me with alarming force. Seeing businesses (traditional, virtual, bloggers, etc.,) carrying on means we are moving forward when it feels like we are trapped in a never ending nightmare.

Moving forward is essential. We would not have survived the Great Depression followed by WWII if we weren’t resilient. Taking those steps, one at a time, no matter how wobbly they are, means we are getting closer to the other side. We won’t know what that looks like for a long time and the short-term unknown is terrifying. One thing is for certain — we will be forever changed as not only a nation, but as a world.

It is my hope that we come out a little more compassionate to our fellow humans, and that during this time of isolation, we show just as much grace and compassion to ourselves as we would to others.

Stay safe, friends. Let me know how you are doing and know that you are always in my thoughts.

Much Love,

Lisa