These are tough times. Unbelievably trying. Totally beyond anyone’s anticipation and preparation. These uncertainties dampen our enthusiasm for the future. We simply don’t know what’s going to be our tomorrow. If it’s the same as yesterday and today then that’s great because it means we are still alive and hopefully not sick.
For this year, the simple goal is to stay healthy and safe. But it’s complicated. It’s not that simple. The virus comes from everywhere and how do we protect ourselves completely? One guy followed the stay at home order for weeks. He stepped out once to pick up groceries and bammm! he contracted the vicious virus. My nurse friend told me that this virus is definitely not like the regular flu. They’ve seen patients doing great then just drop dead on the 7th day.
Each one of us looks forward to going out again, and we are having some restless feet. We want to visit family, friends, neighbors. We miss shopping, restaurant-hopping, watching movies in theaters, hiking, and traveling to places we’ve never been to. We have a stronger urge to do everything that we couldn’t do during this lockdown.
Come to think of it. If this pandemic happened 20 or 25 or 30 years ago when there was no internet yet, then how do we communicate with the outside world? How can we work from home and conduct conference calls using Zoom, Skype? Technology somehow eases the burden of being locked-down. Individuals can reconnect with their loved ones. Companies are still able to function and mobilize their people during this pandemic. Employees who can still work from home at least still have jobs. Students can still catch-up through long distance learning using high-speed broadband on their computers. Teachers can still reach out to each and every student from the safety of their homes. Groups can still work together without physically being together with the aid of technology. Online businesses are still able to generate businesses while people are sheltering at home. 30 years ago this ease of communication was inexistent and the economic toll would have been immeasurable.
There is nothing we could do right now that’s more important than keeping ourselves alive and well. Postpone any hopes and dreams till after a cure or vaccine has been found.
While this is all happening, don’t let your spirit break. I know it’s hard to keep our sanity intact. I myself feel anxious all the time. I couldn’t sleep at night. I worry, pray, worry, pray.
Today I spoke to my sister. Her daughter Kayleen continues to work in a medical lab. She found out that her co-worker she car-pooled with has tested positive for the corochin virus. The girl has no symptoms and is quarantining at home.
Kayleen’s exposure put her in danger of having contracted the virus too. While waiting for the test result, imagine the anxiety and extreme worry my sister, Kaykay, her dad, and two sisters went through. We’ve heard of stories where the family never saw their loved one again after he/she was brought to the hospital. This what-if is hard to comprehend and the mere thought could easily break anyone’s spirit.
Thank God Kay’s test came back negative. The other girl riding with them also tested negative but she took off. She got so scared.
When Kay goes back to work, she should just drive her own car, not share, not carpool to minimize any contamination.
When my sister cried while telling me all this, I cried too. I could feel her ordeal.
I advised my sister to get enough sleep and to say repeatedly have mercy on us Lord or in God we trust. Paulit-ulit lang till she falls asleep. I hope this helps calm her spirit down.
Edmund had a bad tummy last week and we both were worried. Every time I hear someone sneezes or coughs, it throws me off balance. I ask right away, anak may ubo ka? In minutes I hand out warm water or hot tea. I sterilize our utensils, sanitize the stairs railings, door handles, faucets, toilet bowls, sinks. I keep washing our beddings. I am praning na.
Yesterday I felt like the heat was coming out of my eyes and palms. Para akong masakit ang ulo, nahihilo ako. Edmund told me I was just nervous. I watched the movie Letters to Juliet and I felt better. Nalibang ako.
This whole thing makes a lot of people depressed and nervous, not only me. Sometimes I feel weepy.
Today the news said the virus would still be around for the next two years and an estimated 800,000 Americans could die from the virus. This is nerve-wracking. Who’s not going to be hysterical?
I pray that God blesses the scientists, biochemists, doctors, with the right knowledge so that they would discover a cure and vaccine to block the virus the soonest possible time, hopefully within this year, before winter comes.
#covid19 #depression #virusvaccine #stayhealthy #frontliners #inGodwetrust
