BY BERNADETTE RUSSO
I’ve been staring at my phone so much my eyes are starting to tear up. The news provokes my anxiety, and my family and I have spent so much time together inside I think we might just go insane. I need an ESCAPE, but how are you supposed to accomplish that during a time when the entire world is quite literally being advised to stay where you are?
You go on walks, or at least I have (while practicing social distancing, of course).
The first time I went on a walk was just over a week into quarantine. I hadn't left my house in a while, and was starting to forget what the outdoors felt like. It was refreshing to revisit sensations I hadn't felt in a long time, like the cool breeze of fresh air brushing through my hair and the warmth of the sun against my skin. However, as I continued to walk, I saw what seemed the most alien of it all to me: a person other than my family, for the first time since this all started, walking their dog across the sidewalk from me. Another human! And what do you know, as I kept walking there were more. And more. And more! I'll admit, it's a strange idea to grasp that suddenly, simply seeing another person was this rare occurrence, akin to finding a four leaf clover or seeing the Northern Lights. And wow, if it wasn't the first time I’d been truly excited in a while.
I’ve always thought of myself as an introvert, only really enjoying the presence of those who I felt most comfortable with. But I think if this quarantine has taught me anything, it’s that that is definitely not the case. Even though I kept a safe distance away from people on my walks, there was a connection there that I had been lacking by being cooped up inside my house. These familiar faces from my neighborhood and I were experiencing the same things- we were both going through a pandemic, probably both going insane at home, and just needed a reminder that there IS life outside of making bread and watching every Netflix Original there is.
Of course, merely seeing someone 30 feet away on the other side of the street is no proper replacement for standard human interaction, but it’s something. It's nice to just be in someone’s general presence, knowing that we're both walking in the same radius-- there's comfort in that. We are able to be together in a time where togetherness is cancelled. I also think now, more than ever, I've developed a deeper appreciation for not only other people, but the life around me. I see a greater beauty in the colors and bends of the sky, the light pink flowers on the trees, and the smell of pure, unaltered nature. Because that's the thing- life as we know it may have changed indefinitely, but the seasons haven't. Spring is still in bloom. Some days it will rain, some days it won't. Nature is still consistent, and my God, do we need consistency right now.
The truth of the matter is: life kind of sucks right now. It does. No one likes feeling trapped, but it's our duty as citizens to mitigate the spread of this virus and do our part, even if that means losing the warm feeling of hugging your best friend or giving a welcoming handshake to a new one. When that beautiful day comes and you are finally able to embrace those dear to you, I hope you will love with a fierce passion and newfound admiration for life. But for now, let's be kind to ourselves and make the most of what we can do. Go outside to ease your mind. Get your Vitamin D. Be safe. Maybe share a distant wave with a friendly face. And relish in the nature unfolding before your eyes. You will be surprised at how its beauty will affect you, because when the world is spinning upside down, there will still be another sunset when the night falls.
Be well, and be present.
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