What’s most important to you right now? 

The health and sanity of my loved ones. 

What was most important to you before you had to social distance? 

My passport. Before all of this, I was on a plane probably every other month just exploring a new place. I have a travel blog that I post on monthly, but for my nomad self to not be somewhere new or not have any plans to leave the country is just such an unusual feeling. I don’t feel like myself.

What’s the first thing you’ll do when this is over? 

Hug everyone. I want to hug as many people as possible. Throw a giant party where we all hug each other and talk about this pandemic that we all survived mentally and physically.

What are you doing to pass the time? 

Aside from binge watching everything, I started bike riding. I found my old bicycle in the basement. After I cleaned up the rust and filled up the tires, I decided to take her out. I hadn’t been on a bike in five or six years, so that was something new and exciting. I now bike every day for an hour, so to be out in nature and have that time alone is amazing.

What makes you happy right now?

My boyfriend. He’s such an optimist. He always sees the glass half full, so whenever there’s a point where I’m over it, he’s able to talk me down. He has such confidence and calmness in his voice. 

What would you tell yourself two months ago with the knowledge you have today? 

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Be kinder. There’s a lot of pressure on social media to get certain things accomplished during this time that we have. I find it hard to get stuff done even when I’m in the best of times, let alone when we’re in a crisis. Have goals for yourself, but know that if you don’t accomplish them it doesn’t make you a failure at all. We’re all going through this differently.

Antoinette T-New Jersey

DAY 47