Getting by...

I haven't been keeping track of how many days or weeks COVID-19 has put the world in self-isolation. I know the weekend of March 7th I was in Denver, at the Oprah 2020 Vision Tour with a good friend, and then seeing another good friend in Fort Collins, dining out and meandering downtown shops. I spent time with my family and celebrated my belated birthday and saw a movie. Everything since then seems like a blur, to be honest, days running into each other.

This morning I woke up considering how am I getting by right now? I find inspiration on Instagram, I watch a lot of shows I enjoy on Netflix, I cook good food for myself and spend a lot of time with Rene at the local parks. And oh yeah! I get by too with the help from my friends and family!

It has been an interesting time of rediscovering long distance connection. Do you make phone calls, Skype, Duo or Zoom? Have virtual happy hours or book club conversations? Watch live videos on Instagram? Send letters? I've done all these things, and have felt the pure, honest love and care of those with whom I am connecting. I've talked to friends I haven't spoken to in months due to busy lives; family members where I can have long, honest conversations; and other friends where we share a "funny meme of the day"; with others we share our drinks of choice over a phone call that does not include COVID-19 talk. I still get to go to work, so see those mates if I can, and just asking "How are you doing?" allows us all to just breathe a little better.

How are you getting through this time of quarantine, social distancing, fear of sickness, job loss, working from home with no escape? Put like that, it sounds pretty daunting. So for myself I just piece it all one day, one hour, one second at a time. I give myself lots of permissions (it's okay to eat ice cream in bed watching a Netflix show at 3pm!) but also a few challenges (let's try to get up at the same time each day to keep a routine). And, of course, I make connections with friends and family: texting, calling, instant messaging, post commenting, mailing letters. In the end, I picture us all coming out of our homes, bleary eyed, with our real hair color and texture, and reaching out for a hug or a hand or a kiss or to wipe away a tear off a face makeup hasn't graced in months. We put on our best clothes and meet at that restaurant that we love and toast to getting by, getting through, and getting there together.

Thank you for helping me get by, and I hope I help you get by, too!

XOXO Mel