As I write this first post of 2020 (!!!) the world is in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. First and foremost: I am safe in Milwaukee. My school began spring break on March 14th so I was working from home this week anyway. I have reached out to my friends and loved ones to make sure everyone’s spirits are up in these unprecedented times. This is certainly a time of confusion and anxiety for many people. Please, above everything: take care of your mental health! I have said many times that the brain is too powerful and too important to allow the health to deteriorate.
There is something to be said about the word “unprecedented”. I have heard that word used more times in the last six days then I have in my 31 years living. It is interesting how that five-syllable word (I like how you’re checking to make sure) can cause uncertainty in people who hear it. There’s no certainty when life will return to the normal that we know before social distancing. How will humanity readjust to life post-COVID-19? However many questions you may have about the immediate future, I want to attempt to put your mind and heart at ease for a bit.
There is time for people to focus on self-improvement. I know several people who are using this time to focus on (re)learning in on a skill. Some people are buried in their gaming devices or alternative reality. There’s no pressure on you to bury yourself away and emerge with the next great Academy Award-winning script or New York Times Bestseller. Enrich yourself for the sake of becoming a better person, no matter what your passion(s). This would be a great time to find what motivates you if you find yourself lacking something that really stokes your fire. There’s no pressure. Allow yourself to get lost in whatever makes you happy. That may involve putting the phone down and not checking Instagram and Twitter. Rediscover the beauty of being unplugged, it may help your sanity in these times.
I know it has been said time and time again, but please take care of your self during this time. You have to make sure that whatever is going on in the world, you just need to focus on what you can control. I need to take my advice a lot more because I need to constantly feel as if I am in control in order to have a sense of peace. I’m going to try to make more concerted efforts to write with more frequency. I know how much you enjoy that #content and I intend on delivering whilst I have the time for the foreseeable future.
That’s all for now. Be good to yourself and others.
From,
YFBF
Your First Black Friend 