Making sure that my family is healthy and safe, and making sure that my man’s family is healthy and safe.I’ve got four sets of grandparents now and I want to make sure they’re all safe and healthy. Then I’ve got [my brother] who’s 2 and he’s just a firecracker. I know that my poor dad and my stepmom have to be going up the wall trying to make sure that he’s able to get out all of his energy while also respecting the quarantine. That, for me, is probably one of my biggest concerns. My mom’s diabetic too, so I can’t be in a certain proximity to her. There’s a lot of different factors. I’ll be fine. I’ve got a lot of other people in my life who I’m worried about.
What was most important to you before you had to social distance?
Doing all my schoolwork in a way that was also applicable to the rest of my life. I had this revelation several years ago about how a lot of people when they go to school just go to get the grades…but that’s like renting an education as opposed to actually retaining it. I was trying to balance doing that, but also making sure I could afford rent and stuff.
What’s the first thing you’ll do when this is over?
I haven’t even let myself think about it much. I think once all of this is over I’ll probably look for another job. I work in the service industry to cover the majority of my bills, and there have been a lot of restaurants that have been doing a really good job trying to take care of their employees. My specific store–their response to all of this was “we’ll provide them resources on where to look for alternative employment” instead of actually trying to help us out so that we want to come back.
What are you doing to pass the time?
My boyfriend and I made a list of things to get done. I’m trying to slowly cross things off of that list. As an extrovert, I don’t like being cooped up inside, so I’ll do things like detail-clean my blinds. I started to needlepoint again. I have this one needlepoint project that I’ve been working on for 5 years. I picked that up again. When the weather’s nice, because we’re not in a quarantine situation down here in Georgia in my specific area, [we] can go to a park.
What makes you happy right now?
Crossing something off my list makes me really happy. I’ve realized sharing both my accomplishments and foibles on social media is really encouraging right now. Yesterday I tried to make tortillas for the first time–It did not go well, but when I shared the experience, a lot of people had really positive and encouraging responses. If it had just been me and my own tortillas, I’d never try again, but because a lot of people were like “that’s pretty. good for a first time!” now that is something I’m willing to actually try again. And exercising. Exercising feels so good!
What would you tell yourself a month ago with the knowledge you have today?
Pick up a few extra shifts, you’ll feel better later.
