How Covid-19 has affected me.

It’s safe to say at this point that the pandemic has had an effect on all of us in some way. I don’t think there’s anyway to get through something like this without at least a few changes to your day-to-day life. I wanted to update how things were affecting me and talk with some of you to see how you’re all dealing with it. This is just a way to touch base with you guys and talk about everything we are going through. Also all pictures for this post will just be of my dog and I, I think that will be more uplifting than depressing pandemic pictures.

Everyone meet Luna!

I currently work retail and while we have been shut down to the public the Store Manager and I still have to come in Monday through Friday from 11-5 for shipment. We were told that the only way the company can generate revenue is through the orders stores are shipping out and that if we still wanted the company to be able to pay us this is what would need to happen. The city I live in is on a stay at home order, but it is not yet mandated. Even if it was to be mandated our District Manager already told us he’ll get paperwork marking us as essential so that we can keep coming in. I love how corporate workers always make things sound like they’re doing you a favor.

It’s a bit of an eerie feeling to go out everyday when there is almost no one out on the roads and all the stores I drive by are empty with their lights off. At the same time it surprises me how many people I see ignoring the warnings and still meeting up with friends or doing group activities. People don’t understand that this is going to get worse before it gets better, and if we want to make it better we need to work together and fight this by staying inside. I get frustrated with the fact that people are blatantly disregarding this as something less than it really is, I think many people aren’t taking it seriously because they aren’t seeing the impact firsthand. I really wish government on both a state level as well as national would do more to force us to stay in, because without extreme measures I can’t see us getting through this any time soon.

In the time I’m not working or going to the grocery store I have tried to stay inside as much as possible. Honestly as someone who has never been one to go out and socialize much I almost welcome this time at home. I have used it as an opportunity to pour myself into my passion projects and get through school work. Something about this entire situation has sparked my creativity and ramped up my drive to make these things I’m passionate about into something substantial. I understand that not everyone can find the ability to create or do their best work in a time filled with this much anxiety, and that’s okay. There is nothing wrong with not being at 100% during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. Anyone that tells you otherwise is just being irresponsible.

Here’s a pic of Luna and myself from last Easter.

I will say that now that things have been this way for about 2 weeks or so for most of us, I’m more worried than before. At least where I live in Kansas, I am not seeing people following social distancing guidelines or taking the proper measures to be safe in this situation. I personally don’t mind if other people refuse to listen and put themselves at risk but the fact that what they are doing is putting others in immediate danger is what is frustrating. As I said I have had to be in my store from 11-5 Monday through Friday and on my commute to and from I have seen more and more people out and about as time has gone on. It feels like people are in the mindset that since they haven’t personally seen the effects of this in people around them then it isn’t as big a deal as we are making it out to be. I do understand there’s nothing that can be done about the actions people choose to take (unless the government enforces it with mandates), but it is very disheartening to see.

Working in retail gives me the opportunity to talk with people younger than me, and judging from the way some of my associates have reacted to this pandemic I feel like there is a sense that this is just a break from school and the monotony of daily life. This prompts an entirely separate set of concerns about the education system and the way we make people resent learning, but I won’t get into that. The main point I want to make is that this is a serious situation and I urge everyone to look at the way they are dealing with it and make sure they’re taking the proper measures to keep not only themselves safe but everyone they come in contact with.

She knows how cute she is.

I know everyone is going through different things right now, some are being laid-off, others are dealing with anxiety, others still are having trouble affording food and medicine. I wanted to reach out with this post and see how things are going for you and ask you what one positive thing you have either done or experienced during this time of crisis? Leave a comment below or reach out to me on social media! In this time of crisis we are living through I think it is more important than ever to establish real connections and make the most of them.

As always thanks for reading, I post (at least) every Wednesday and Saturday so check back then for more or sign-up via email to receive notifications for all new posts!