Oxygen & Human Connection

It has been a while since I've written. It's also been a while since I've been able to hug my parents. It's been close to a month of COVID-19.

I have found myself marveled, horrified, and with a newfound appreciation for all the little things. Lately, my dreams have been about being a little kid. They have been about running in the park, playing softball for the local league, celebrating holidays with family and making crafts, sitting on the couch with my family, and playing board games with hot chocolate. I've found myself remembering specifics, the tall purple plants by the pool and the small burnt spot in the carpet in the living room- memories from a six year old. I wake up and find it a bit disorienting. It is clear that I am craving simplicity.

It is easy to say we understand what is means that humans are social creatures, but I have never been in a position of intentional distancing (like many of us). I miss the little moments and it truly puts into perspective just how vital human touch and connection is. Almost as important as the oxygen that we breathe.

A few weeks ago, most of my writings were focused on seeking balance and simplicity as I faced transitions in my life. From starting a new job, to finding balance between my life and the people in it, to making sure I am taking care of and fueling myself with positivity and healthy choices. COVID-19 has placed these topics into new light of introspection. I find myself yearning for the flexibility to choose to go watch a movie with my mom, to dedicate an early and groggy morning to a hike with my friends, to go to dinner and walk around downtown, and to spontaneously go for a beach trip or a museum. Little things that I always want to do, but struggle with finding the time for. During this experience, I have been very aware of my own mind. The impact of a lack of human interaction or in some cases an overload of human interaction within a small apartment. And it has been clear in these past few weeks that life is about balance just as much as it's about the experiences and the people. The fact of the matter is, life is simply not simple. How we cope and think about it can be- that is the only space in which we have control.

On the topics of control and balance, I want to address working from home. It is a privilege to work from home, to have stability, and to have close friends as roommates during this time of instability. In moments of irritation and sadness, I am reminding myself of the plethora of wonderful things I have that many have not been allotted. So I want to make an effort to reach out and support people in ways that I can. We all can and ought to do what we can during this time.

The value of community has truly come to the forefront during this time. The jobs of healthcare

workers, employees at stores, gas stations, food and agricultural workers, pre-school workers and janitorial staff (and many others) and the level of respect, admiration, and gratitude that should always go to these jobs has become apparent. These are the people risking their safety and working to support a community- these are the positions that are deemed vital and necessary and should be treated as such. We as a community need to remember that these workers supported us and we must also support them- let's not forget that many of these workers are without a union, high pay rate, and job stability. I am forever grateful to all of the people helping to keep me and my loved ones safe.

I am strangely grateful for the change that this situation has created in the way I view my own mentality, the way I look at simplicity, the way I look at my community, and the way I look at the things that once seemed so permanent and unmoving. How quickly things can change and take shape- and luckily how adaptive and resilient we are as human beings.