This time living under COVID-19 is like none other. The world has more or less come to a halt–stay at home orders, the shut down of restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, sporting events and the list goes on and on. The sheer tragedy of this pandemic is something that I have yet to wrap my head around. As our country enters the worst week, I shudder to read the news of the death toll on the rise.
The days all seem to blend together or as many have said to me, “each day feels like Groundhog Day.” For those of us who are blessed to still be able to work (I certainly don’t take that for granted) and who aren’t at the front lines caring for patients or even working the grocery stores, it’s hard to know exactly when to stop and end the work day. But if that’s the least of my worries, I’ll take it.
Despite the darkness around us, I am working to find joy during this time. I’m structuring my days around activities like eating, praying and running. I would like to say that I’ll be ready to run another marathon by the time this is finished…but I’ve also been eating more than usual. And snacking is hard to say no to when the kitchen is just a few feet away from the workspace!
Some little blessings…spring has been gorgeous in northern Virginia. I’m exploring every nook and cranny of my neighborhood (thank goodness running hasn’t been banned!) and it’s been fun to see the sidewalk art/phrases, the beautiful flowers and trees and the creativity of children making do with the great outdoors and the toys they already have available. I see stuffed animals in the trees and umbrella forts in the common areas. I just hope they are practicing social distancing. I even spotted an Easter egg hunt the other day throughout the neighborhood via drawn eggs with sidewalk chalk.
I continue to pray each day with friends that this virus and all the devastation that has come with it will end soon. May we hope and pray that God will see us through to the other side as a kinder, gentler and more humble people.
What is getting you through the long days? Leave a comment!
mileoneandcounting 
I think an unanticipated benefit of the lockdown is the moving of many meetings to teleconferencing platforms like Zoom, which has allowed folks to join from distant locations that might not have been able to otherwise.
Definitely, Ken! And to think even kindergarteners are learning and using platforms like Zoom now for school.