Dear Corona
You have officially altered life as we know it. Nobody alive today has ever experienced something of this magnitude and detriment. Fear, speculation, turmoil, and uncertainty are your byproducts. You are the current definition of cancelled plans, closed signs, unemployment, and loneliness.
You have created a world where hugging is off limits and where children have to learn that it is potentially unsafe to interact with other children outside of home. You catalyzed a whole new culture of social distancing, as well as self quarantining, and maintaining a 6-foot distance in public spaces between oneself and others.
You have transformed mask-wearing from something only a few people every now and then wore into an everyday wardrobe item during necessary public outings. In fact, people who don’t wear masks in public are moreso the outcasts now and clearly must not care about their safety. On top of that, we now live in a society where a simple cough out in public will have the following effects: 1) people mentally diagnosing you; 2) people shooting you looks of disgust; 3) people secretly judging you for coming out of the house assuming you’re endangering everyone else.
You have caused me [and I’m sure many other people] to purchase items I didn’t foresee needing until now and no I’m not talking about no Charmin… I mean a nice, pretty desk for me to work at for 8 hours a day, as teleworking is the new norm for those of us who can remain gainfully employed from the comfort of our homes. However, panic buying for simple luxuries such as toilet tissue, paper towels, wipes, and food, has reached an all-time high. In various areas, the demand is exceeding the supply.
Personally, you have made being at home all day, every day almost dreadful for me. Like after going out for a car ride for a few hours some days, I literally almost dread going back to these mundane four walls, because I for one, have spent most of this year inside (from having a baby in January to presently).
You are the reason people are having to die alone, have babies alone, endure hospital stays alone, or just be all alone because there is no way to look at anyone and determine whether they have been infected.
You want to be the bane of our current existence because you have taken so much, while we are yet trying to figure you out and connect the dots. Everybody is simply trying to make sense of something that just does not make sense. Nevertheless, with everything going on we are impatiently waiting on outside to open back up. We thought we were invincible. America has been privileged to the point of naivety. Surely this thing that developed elsewhere was not coming for us. Your pull up game was strong and ain’t nobody even ask you to come thru!
You really didn’t have to do us like this; but you know what, you have not defeated us though because we are more than conquerors! There is always a silver lining and it’s all about perspective. Thanks to you, families are getting to spend more time together and the opportunities to create unforgettable memories. Some people are gaining some much needed and deserved rest and relaxation, God knew they were overworked and underpaid, or just simply getting burnt out. So in the midst of chaos, some of us have found peace. More than ever for some, we are motivated to check on and communicate with friends and family more than we normally would have. We appreciate this season for allowing us to grow in areas we needed to, develop skills we need, and for allowing time and space to be creative and productive. Some of us are grateful for this time that has pushed us out of our comfort zones in so many ways.
Coming into a new decade with 2020 vision, I know we didn’t envision this, but we must continue to persevere and fight the good fight. Stay home & stay safe.
Special thank you to all the heroes out on the front lines everyday - medical staff, grocery store workers, postmen, truck drivers, and all other essential workers.
You is smart. You is kind. You is important.
- The Help
