Pandemic Pandering: why am I expected to revamp my life during a global crisis?

2020: Coronavirus Global Pandemic

This was supposed to be our year. 2019 was rough for so many people and when the new year hit, we let out a collective sigh of relief that the new roaring '20s was going to be our year.

2019 is looking pretty good right about now; in fact, I miss it.

Hopeful and a fresh start, this year has turned into a global panic and the start of a new world. Life will be anything but the same when things return to "normal". The retail and hospitality landscapes will be vastly different including a lot less of the places we're used to frequenting. Employment will be at a high for months if not a year to come and living paycheck to paycheck will the constant reality for so many whose jobs were reduced or eliminated.

While there is plenty of fear to go around, there is much good happening too. Every day we read stories of super humans, aka, those on the front lines. Tirelessly working medical staff, grocery store clerks, delivery personnel, restaurant workers and more all helping us to get through this some sense of normalcy and security.

People are becoming creative at home and rediscovering hobbies, cooking delicious meals, working out with a consistency maybe they hadn't before. Going forward, many positions may now allow a better work life balance allowing people to do much of their job on a more flexible schedule between home and office. Ultimately, my hope is we all walk out of this more grateful for every moment we share with loved ones.

But what if, through all this "time off" that so much of the media is touting we now have (despite many people taking additional roles as schools and resources shutter), we don't find a creative urge or we don't fall into mind-set of bettering ourselves? What if we are scared and uncertain and our anxiety allows us to do little more than get out of bed? What if we do nothing more than text with friends or simply survive?

Are we wrong to not use the time "more effectively"? Are we ungrateful at the opportunity to use the downtime we most likely clamored for before the world changed?

No, and here's why. We aren't meant to deal with everything that's happening. Some people are choosing to focus on improvement and that's amazing. I myself am trying to hone in on some things I haven't allocated time for up until now. But others are now teachers, caregivers, sole bread winners and more - roles they aren't used to, equipped for, or wanting to do. Still, some people may only be physically taking care of themselves but checking in with friends, co-workers, family and more and taking an emotional toll by being there for everyone else.

No matter how you spend your days during this unprecedented time, it is valid. It is a new comparison game on social media as everyone posts their #stayathome and #shelterinplace pictures and it can be damaging.

So please, do stay home and be safe and please remember - there is no wrong way to survive this time, you are doing just fine.