When we speak of this past New Year’s Eve, is NYE 2019 or 2020? LOL, I always get confused. Any who, whatever it is, it seems like a life time ago. So much as happened these past few months. Never would I have ever thought anything like this could happen in our lifetime.
2020 sure came in with a bang. So many tragedies: Fires in Australia, Trump gets acquitted, and the Coronavirus spreading around the world. Aside from my own personal troubles, the end of January, the world was in shock with the news that Kobe and Gigi Bryant along with 7 other people died in a plane crash. I remember writing about it that day, up now it is still in my drafts. He was a hero, an idol, inspiration for many people around the world. He wasn’t perfect, but he symbolized growth. He owned up to his trials and missteps and made tried his hardest to make things right. There was so much behind the scenes we didn’t know, until his passing. Silly us we thought this was the worse of 2020.
Fast forward a couple months later, March 11, Coronavirus aka Covid-19 aka the rona is officially considered a global pandemic. 6 days later we are in a mandated shelter in place. Our county was one of the first in CA to shelter in place, non essential businesses are closed. A few weeks after it’s as if the whole nation is on lock down. Millions of people are affected. Many people have lost their jobs and don’t know where rent/ mortgage, car, insurance or food money is going to come from.
I am one of the lucky ones, considered an essential worker. I am lucky to have a job, but this means longer hours and extra days. We don’t think twice, at least I knew what I was getting myself into when I decided to enter health care. Perception vs. reality, the reality of it all is that it IS overwhelming. I could only imagine what the nursers and doctors are going through just based on what we are dealing with in pharmacies. I could only imagine with the janitors/custodians/environmental services personnel are going through. What about the grocery store clerks, uber eats/door dash drivers, bus drivers? Teachers? How are you all? At this point, distance learning is now are new norm and to be able to do this in such short time. I am amazed.
It is just heartwarming to hear/see stories of people coming together to help one another. Strangers who are now friends. Neighbors who are now family. I just want to thank ALL the essential workers for all you do. My mind is just everywhere right now. There’s so much I want to write about, but for now, I just simply want to say THANK you. I just want to ask how are you? Now more than ever, our mental health should be a priority.
Our worlds have been forever changed, there will be a new normal. I don’t know about you, but my anxiety levels are through the roof. Each day I through myself into work, whether it be my ” corporate” job or my small business. I have been doing everything I can to stay out of my head. I’m afraid to even allow myself time to just think.
The first few weeks were the hardest. No one knew what was going, everyone was in a panic. At work, in my role, I wear many hats. Most of the time I feel like a therapist. I am just there to listen, for them to vent to, both my direct reports and the patients. Some day are a lot harder than others, I can’t count how many times I’ve woken up and said, ” I can’t do this today.” Or “Sometimes I don’t want to be essential any more.” Then I think about everyone else who has it worse. At least I have a job to complain about. At least I will be able to buy all the necessities. If we can, if we have the means to, we should give back to the community, pay it forward.
Sorry this post was just every where. I just needed to type and get a few things off my chest. I hope you and your loved ones are safe during this global pandemic. I hope you are listening to your bodies and not pushing yourselves too much. We need to take care of ourselves before we can continue to take care of others. One thing that has been stuck in my mind and I can’t remember where I saw/read/heard it from but it went something like this….” in tragic times like these, you look for the helpers. There are always helpers.”
THANK YOU to all the helpers.
Khaye's Khronicles 