The New Normal

The saga continues . . . . . . 2020 was a crazy year. Started off amazingly, with so many hopes, dreams, & ambitions to behold. Then boom - COVID-19, took over the entire world. Seemed like the virus came out of nowhere, and just destroyed life as we know it.

People went from having freedoms of regular daily activities, to stay at home orders & curfews. Having to wear mask everywhere, social distancing, washing hands more frequently, and using more hand sanitizer. Not being able to hang with friends, go out to dinner, or see family - has been a tremendous strain on a lot people.

Depression, domestic violence, and alcohol sales are all up, due to the pandemic. A lot of people are not familiar with how to deal with this ongoing situation. Unfortunately, this is the new normal.

Going into 2021, we have picked up exactly were 2020 left off. Exactly, where 2020 left off, unfortunately. The rates are still going up, people are still dying from COVID, and a new strain of the disease has formed. At this point, we can all do one of a few things - decide to hide and live in fear, practice safety measures and live life as normal as possible, or just say forget everything I do nothing.

As for my house, we are practicing safety measures. As a former healthcare worker, the constant handwashing, and hand sanitizer wasn't an adjustment. I do not allow my children outside, they only leave the house if we are going to get into the car. I limit the outside activities for them because my children are very young.

Due to the fact that a lot of businesses have closed down, or altered their operations. We have not been able to have birthday parties my children outside of the home at places like Chuck E. Cheese or the bowling alley. Thankfully, as long as I buy gifts, and cupcakes they are still happy.

As for myself, it has been a great strain on the dating scene. Its very hard meeting people or trying to date during a pandemic. Again places are closed, and I definitely will not go to a strangers house. So my dates / meet-up have been at the post office or at the local gas station. So romantic, I know - but what else can I do? Just stay home and say I'll wait until COVID-19 disappears? I waited long enough last year, and here we are going into year 2 with this same virus.

The goal for 2021 is to do my part in keeping down the spread of covid and any other spreadable viruses. Making sure that my family and I practice social distancing, hand washing, and use hand sanitizer frequently. We have also began taking more vitamins, and made great changes to our diets, and increased our water intakes.

I'm not sure exactly sure what the future holds, but I am making sure that I teach my family the importance of love, caring, and sharing. We must all look out for each other during this time of need. A lot of people are without, any clothing or items that are not needed, we are donating. As well as donating money to numerous charities. The government has offered some help, but its not enough. People are actually going hungry and getting evicted from their homes.

Anything within my power that I can do to help, I will definitely do. Sitting around a discussing what other countries are giving their citizens, doesn't help the citizens of the United States. We must all stay focused to what the bigger picture is, and that is to make sure that all American's receive the help and appropriate healthcare needed.

Once we all united again as a country we will be able to combat again COVID-19, and take the world back under control.