COVID-19: Life Is Different
A couple of months ago, a new virus started in China. Since then it has ripped through the world. A couple of weeks ago the schools were shut down, the president announced a national emergency and we started practicing “social distancing”. Luckily, I have a job that allows me to work from home and I have been since the schools shut down. Monday the governor announced a lockdown on the state. We are not supposed to leave our homes unless needing food or medical. Our plants shut down starting Tuesday which has rippled into our company announcing we will have our hours reduced to 21 hours a week along with half of our salaries. Many people have been laid off from businesses needing to shut down, service industries may be impacted the most. The world is a different place.
Obviously, when you find out you will start receiving half of your salary you think of ways to make it better. What on earth will I do with an extra 20 hours a week of free time? I have never not had a full-time job along with a side gig. Currently, I clean homes for others. Six months ago I reduced clientele to ensure I was home more and could provide a more consistent schedule for my kids. Life has always been busy, with work or the kid’s sporting events. I ensure I give them as many opportunities as I can. Doing it all on your own makes you second guess yourself very often, by often I mean every.single.day. Sometimes I feel I thrive better with the craziness as that is what I know. However, a simple life stress-free sounds amazing. How do we get there? Life is now different. We have been at home for two weeks, unable to leave our homes as we want to be safe. Now we must adjust to what seems like the new norm while trying not to go crazy in the meantime.
It is a time of crisis where people are sick, dying and those not impacted health-wise are losing their jobs and told to stay home for their own and others’ safety. During difficult times it is hard to find the positives. Finding the good during so much bad helps us endure it. Life is slowing down without our control, could it be a good thing? This week has not been productive at all. Instead of getting things done, I have spent much time thinking. I am thankful for my life, for the health of my family, my job and the time I have on this earth. Today I am trying to find the positives of the situation we are in. It is an opportunity to re-evaluate how I live life.