It's been an interesting few months. Covid, toilet paper shortages, a presdential election, stay at home orders, healthy friends dying, continual sniping at others on social media and TV, and on and on.
My family has been fortunate through all of this--no virus (yet), continued financial resources, and more than adequate housing and necessities. With extreme gratitude on one hand, on the other hand, I'm also aware of a constant low level of strain or disquiet.
As with most people, we can't see our friends and family as we'd like. We can't escape the contentiousness of the election and its aftermath. We worry that we'll be an inadvertent carrier of Covid and/or that we'll contract it ourselves. We need to run to the grocery store or the hardware store or anywhere but we have to weigh the real need as opposed to greater exposure.
On the other hand, life gets a little less cluttered when you're forced to rein in your activities. There is a bit more time for enjoying your current circumstances, taking stock of the life you've been living, being appreciative of the chance to connect with others when before it was taken for granted.
As we move into winter, I'm worried that the holiday season and the cold will make people feel more isolated. More people will be miserably sick and more will die. There will be less sunshine, literally and figuratively, and just as more effort is needed to be happy, it is more difficult to summon the energy.
Of course, all the worries I have in general, I have for myself specifically too. I'm aware of how lucky/blessed I've been and I'm aware of how my natural winter depression will make it tough to remember that. I guess I'm writing this to remind myself.
