Alexis Senge JohnsonCan we just admit this new normal feels weird for us all? No matter what you were used to before, I can bet your new daily routine is completely different from what it used to be. Those younger and carefree are probably used to going out at night, seeing friends more often and probably attending events. Then there’s the missed farmer’s markets, art shows and taco Tuesday’s we’ve all grown accustomed to.
For those of us with kids life made a full turn and it doesn’t even matter if you were previously a stay-at-homer or a worker. Either way, life is now like lockdown with little humans that don’t fully understand why they can’t see their friends, teachers and family members in person. While we struggle to help them through this rough time we also need to remember that it’s okay for everyone to have some pretty big, and ocassionally negative feelings, about this situation at times.
This is hard guys and gals. Don’t be ashamed to admit that. Are we fortunate that it’s not the 1800s and we have technology to keep us connected? Yes! Are we fortunate that we’ve not caught it yet because we’ve been staying safely at home? Yes! Does that mean we don’t have the right to mourn what we might be missing? Hell no! There’s no shame in admitting this has changed us and our feelings in some way sometimes. That’s a part of being human.
Some have been laid off or furloughed. Some are struggling to figure out how they will put food on the table and pay bills the longer this continues. Some feel thankful but also guilty to not be laid off yet like everyone. Some have lost family members and loved ones, some related to COVID-19 and others due to other challenges, during this rought time. You know what? We’re entitled to have big feelings about all of that just like kids are entitled to be scared, nervous, indifferent, or confused about all that has changed in their world.
I see so many out there talking about using this time wisely to learn new skills, find a dream job, soak up family time and to be honest those are all great ideas but I think it’s also more than appropriate to not do a single one. Be sad or mad you got furloughed and drink wine for breakfast if it makes you feel better for even a moment. Take a nap because you don’t feel like combing through new job postings at this second. Eat your feelings out in baked goods as you morn someone you lost. Lock yourself in the bathroom, for fifteen minutes of peace, with a box of thin mints you’ve been hiding from the kids in the back of the freezer behind the peas since you bought them months ago. They are all valid and just as acceptable if it helps you process how you’ll get through this challenging time.
Give yourself the grace and time you need before you stand back up, dust yourself off, and move forward. Just remember that we are all in this together despite being alone physically. Check in on your strongest friends who normally surround themselves with the chaos of a busy social calendar. Check in on the introverts who might secretly be freaking out all alone. Check in on your single, married, childless, pet owner, parental friends because we all share a common bond for once. We’ve all been forced into a new routine and are unsure of what’s to come. It’s good for you, it’s good for them, and in the end it keeps us all connected as we take on this new normal together.
