I recently came across a post that noted if you weren’t doing something productive during the pandemic then it wasn’t about time, rather it was about motivation. I laughed thinking how out of touch with reality and privileged the person must be.
Though it may appear that many individuals, who are not on the front line or in immediate service roles, have their feet propped up on the couch as they sip their favorite beverage, that’s just not the case. Families and individuals are doing everything they can to survive and though some are more privileged and protected than others, everyone is being affected-some far worse than others.
A couple of weeks ago, I was speaking to a waitress who shared that it was her last day at work because she was going to have to stay home with her kids while they attend school online. I could see the pain on her face as she shared this. Within days of that, I spoke to a family member about how they were having to stop their counseling practice to stay home with their kids. Another friend shared how much his child being taught online would impact his availability and the difficulties that would bring. Each of these individuals is being heavily impacted, though not all equally.
Aside from the current aspect of the online schooling world, which is now the reality for teachers, parents, and children, many other things are still overwhelming and impacting families and communities. Many people are out of work or have inconsistent employment with the ebb and flow of the pandemic, as businesses open and close. Many are reliant on unreliable unemployment benefits and potential relief packages, with little to nothing to fall back on. Money to survive is scarce and families are feeling it. This isn’t even capturing the health fears and impact of the pandemic itself. People are scared for their lives and their families. Many people have become sick and many have died. The list of how the pandemic has affected us is impossible to capture in this blog.
How we support each other at this time means more than anything. Lives are on the line for many reasons. The pandemic itself can be a killer. However, the overall impacts on livelihood, in addition to physical health, is large as it relates to mental health, financial sustainability, community connection, etc. We must try to be understanding and be kind to one another. It’s important to not assume we know where others are at this point. Some families may also be caregivers to others and this brings an even heavier lift. In some cases, it has required confinement to the home. Some may be trying to navigate the safety conversation about how to wear a face mask with a loved one who doesn’t have the ability to understand. Some individuals are paralyzed with fear and cannot leave their homes. Everyone is processing acceptance and grief from the pandemic differently. Remember, that you don’t know the full story behind each person you pass. Try your best to hold back judgment.
As a diversity and inclusion leader, I was asked how I was contributing during this time. I responded that I have contributed a great deal of my focus towards work within NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) over the last few months. However, I felt like that answer wasn’t good enough. I felt like maybe I should have been blogging every week on important topics that have everything to do with equity. Maybe I should have written about blogs related to mental health during the pandemic, or the impact of online schooling creating larger inequities, or how police brutality has impacted black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), or maybe a piece on environmental impacts due to the use of disposable gloves and bags, or possibly about the difficulties masks pose to individuals with disabilities. All of these topics (and so many more) have been floating around in my head. However, I, too, have just been trying to survive and I’m happy that I got some writing done today.
So, here is the first blog in a bit to try to contribute a sense of empathy and provide connection to those who are feeling or going through so much. I see you.
**Image by United Nations COVID-19 Response @unitednations (Image of a person wearing a mask and hat with many symbols denoting they have lots of things going on in their mind.)