We Are in This Together

We Are in This Together 
By Ana Maroon, LCPC
 
We are all in this together, that’s what the “global” in global pandemic means to me. We are all going through this, and no one has experienced anything like it. There is no right or wrong way to feel or act in a situation we’ve never been in before. I’ve had a lot of parents ask me what they should do, how they should act, what should they say. “Is it ok to be anxious?” they ask. My answer? Yes, it’s absolutely ok to be anxious. It’s ok to be overwhelmed. A lot of us are trying to work from home and homeschool at the same time. I personally never thought I’d be trying to work a full-time job and teach 3 different grade levels to 4 kids as well as running a household, caring for pets, and caring for myself. There is definitely no training manual for this! 
 
For me it is comforting to have the knowledge that I am not alone. I have friends, family, and coworkers all going through the same thing. I am also keeping up with my self-care by trying some new hobbies. Scratch art is a new one for me as well as putting together models.  I’ve gotten glue all over the place, but it’s still fun! I would say that now is definitely a good time to try some new things you haven’t had time for in the past. 
 
It’s also a good time to strengthen some relationships as well. During a shared experience like this, although difficult, can often lead to people feeling closer and more connected to each other. Let’s take advantage of that. Maybe you have a friend or family member that you just never make enough time for, now is a good time to reach out.  
 
 At a time like this when so much is out of our control it’s best to focus on what we do have in our power to control like our behaviors, how we treat each other, and how we offer support to each other. Let’s be kind to each other and to ourselves because like I have said, we are all in this together.

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