Reflections on Six Months of Living in a Pandemic

I’ve been thinking about writing an article like this for a while.  But I’m honestly kind of glad I waited.  I think a lot of the things I would have said at the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve changed my mind on!  This is an unprecedented situation and it’s hard to know how you’re really going to feel six months in, until you live it.

First off, I’d just like to address that while this period has been tough on me – I fully realize and feel gratitude for the fact that I’m one of the lucky ones.  I’m healthy, haven’t lost anyone I love or my job to the pandemic, and was already working remotely.

I’m also in a very comfortable phase of my life where dealing with a pandemic is annoying, but could be a lot worse.  

Take students for example – they are having to relearn how to go to class virtually.  Not to mention, they’ve had to miss out on keystone moments that they may have been looking forward to for years – such as prom, extracurricular activities and graduation.  I’ve never been a very school spirited person, but having to move to the next phase of my life without ANY fanfare is a little disappointing.

Then let’s look at those who are in entry level jobs.  Since these people are just starting out in their careers, they are likely to be some of the most susceptible to layoffs.  

Or parents.  Sheesh my heart goes out to the these folks.  They are having to juggle working remotely from home AND homeschooling their kids at the same time.  While I want to be a parent someday, I’m sure glad I’m not one today.

On the other side of the spectrum, here I am:   I run my own business, have been established for years, have a committed partner that I live with (so I’m not quarantined alone), and don’t yet have kids that I need to help adapt to the new normal.  LUCKY.

While living in a pandemic undoubtedly sucks, it’s also been a big lesson in gratitude for me.  As much as I want to complain that I can’t travel, I also need to reflect on all the things in my life that make me one of the lucky ones.  Before this year, gratitude wasn’t something I thought about everyday and I want to change that.  I want it to be at the forefront of my mind each and every day.  

A few things I’m grateful for during this pandemic are:

·      The opportunity to buckle down and get a ton of writing done on my blog

·      The opportunity to get my group trip idea off the ground (make sure to check out my girls getaway to Bali next year!!)

·      The opportunity to spend time with my boyfriend, connect more, and work building our relationship stronger!

I think another silver lining of this pandemic has been this widening of the collective heart.  There has been an emphasis on the greater good as healthy folks don masks to protect those who are high-risk, get tested, and stay home so we can get past this together.

I think this focus on doing something not for yourself, but for others – has also given way to the BLM movement jumping to the forefront of the country’s mind.  It’s been a very cool thing to watch, and I don’t know if it would have been as loud if it weren’t for everyone sitting home alone reflecting. 

The first ‘out of the house’ activity we participated in for months was going to a BLM protest.  It felt like the only thing that was worth risking our health & safety for.  It was another type of pandemic and equally foreboding as that of a literal disease.  We couldn’t just sit at home and watch, we needed to get out, get educated, and that – in many people – served as a much needed awakening.

I’m excited to see how we keep the message at the forefront of the public’s mind and enact real change, finally.  

Maybe this was all part of the universe’s plan to spark real change across the country….and world.  

I think the pandemic has forced us to really look at what is important to us.  And while we’ve spent a lot of time solitary….I feel like it’s oddly brought me CLOSER to the people who matter most.  

I’ve spent many hours on Zooms with my family in Austin Texas – celebrating birthdays face-to-face and playing games virtually - something we never did pre-covid.  The pandemic has taught us new and innovative ways to connect and stay close, despite distance.

Time at home in Los Angeles has also allowed me to spend more time with my boyfriend – in a way that we may have not even realized was missing before amidst our busy schedules.  But suddenly there was no gym time, long hours at the office, or travel.  

And together we’ve formed a little social bubble with our closer friends who we trust to follow guidelines, be cautious and test themselves frequently.  Bringing our circle tighter than we’ve been in recent years.

Passport privilege is another concept that has been on my mind throughout this whole period as well. 

As the holder of a US passport, I’ve enjoyed the privilege of being able to visit pretty much anywhere without issue.  Until now that is.  For the first time (ever?), Americans aren’t allowed into many countries across the globe – over their poor handling of the coronavirus.  They are seen as undesirables who could bring along the plague and have been restricted.

This is something that many nationals have to face ALL THE TIME.  And yet it’s something I had never thought much about until now - as I’m aching to travel and having doors shut in my face.

Trust me, I’m never going to take this privilege for granted again, and I hope you don’t as well!  

Even before covid19, the tourism sector has also been in desperate need of change.  

Many destinations have become overrun by tourism and fatally damaged as a result.  Take Boracay in the Philippines for example – this beautiful white sand beach had become so congested and the natural environment so depleted, that the entire island had to be closed down to tourism for months.  It’s honestly very sad, especially when there are steps we could be taking to curb this harmful activity.

To most, sustainable travel was a newer (or unknown) concept when the pandemic first hit.  But I hope one of the key takeaways from this period will be the need of continue to educating and encouraging people to adopt more sustainable habits in their daily life – and especially when it comes to travel.

Instead of all crowding into the same European capitals….what are some off the beaten road destinations we can explore?

Instead of taking part in activities that are set up purely for tourists…what are the cultural experiences that work to preserve ancient traditions?

Instead of supporting big chain hotels (where money often ends up in the hands of wealthy corporations and foreigners), what are the small businesses we can support to benefit the local communities?

An emphasis and commitment to sustainable travel was something I was just getting into last year.  And I’m not going to pretend to be an expert or perfect all the time.  I still slip up and forget to bring my reusable water bottle places and have to buy a plastic one.  

But I’m learning to be comfortable knowing I won’t always get everything right, and that’s ok.  It’s about baby steps in the right direction. And over time, you learn from your mistakes and how to do better.   I want to share my learnings and process with those who frequent my pages and platforms as well, in hopes that they will feel inspired to adopt better habits into their day to day routines and travels.

Conveniently, many of the practices that are good for sustainability, also make sense in a post covid19 world as well.  

For example, I think naturally people are going to want to choose destinations that aren’t overcrowded.  Whereas we once all wanted to travel in the summers – when cities are at their most crowded, I think people will opt for offseason – when they can have more space to themselves.

I think we may see more people opt for vacations that are focused on nature and the environment, over touristy destinations as well.  

And hopefully there will be greater emphasis and empathy towards supporting small businesses when traveling – which benefits the local people.  

Another silver-lining from this period in which US citizens aren’t allowed into many countries is that I’ve taken a chance to finally do more exploration within my own state.  I had spent 10 years living in California, but never gotten around to seeing much beyond Los Angeles and San Francisco.  And I’m getting the feeling that I’m not alone in this.  

Why is it that we’re so eager to jump on a plane whenever we have time off?!  Often times there’s a lot close to home that we’ve yet to explore too.  

In the last few months, I’ve spent time in Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, Big Sur, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe – all of which were very enjoyable and beautiful!  Honestly, I was blown away by how cool these places were and shocked that it took me so long to visit them.  Funny what happens when the world shuts down to you.  You find your own adventures nearby.  

So while I would never say I’m happy with the way 2020 went – I do think our society was in desperate need of a wake up call.  And maybe this was just the thing to do it.  I sincerely hope we can all emerge from this year smart, kinder, and wiser versions of ourselves and citizens of the world.