Response Letter for COVID19
♥
By: Melody Lipford
Dear amazing, valuable, and uniquely made fellow creatives,
I write this letter to you in a swirl of emotions and thoughts about the current unprecedented time we have found ourselves in all over the world. Unfortunately, none of us are exempt from experiencing this pandemic whether we are quarantined at home (stay home, stop the spread), are an essential worker, have loved ones/friends who are essential workers, are working from home, have found ourselves at home without a job, or have loved ones, friends, or community members who are suffering or have suffered from COVID-19.
In the United States, we have become the current global epicenter of the pandemic with hot spots in states such as New York, Washington, and California. I am fortunate to not live in one of the current hotspots of the pandemic, and I am following government restrictions and guidelines to help prevent the spread in my own community. Many states in the U.S. have had “shelter in place” or “stay at home” orders and more are continuing to be added as cases increase. There has been recent legislation passed to help U.S. citizens receive small business loans, stimulus checks, and additional measures to help our people. I am undoubtedly grateful and fortunate to have the ability to work from home. I do not take it for granted as I have friends who aren’t granted the same opportunity.
The frequency of news circulating on our ever-evolving new reality has left many of us (including myself) in a state of sheltered paranoia. Cycling through screens on repeat has become a new mode of communication for most people during this time. Every website we tap or click has some form of “COVID-19 Response” on their page. In turn, I have had to learn to limit the amount of times I check the news per day to safeguard my mental health.
Beyond protecting our physical health through social distancing, it is vitally important that we don’t ignore our mental health and the new state it is in regarding our new reality. Personally, I am grateful to have the ability to work at home to help me keep my routine as normal as possible. In addition, I am so glad to have Home of Passion as a productive and creative outlet when I’m not working. I have also tried to use this time to finally get some self care time and have scared my family a few times with some funky-colored, but relaxing face masks! Plus, I tried to make homemade ravioli and failed, but it was fun nevertheless! Some benefits of this time has been being able to reconnect with friends and family members in other states through video chat. I’m also planning on doing some DIY craft projects such as homemade coasters, painting on canvas, and hand knitting a blanket! Not to mention, I’ve had some time since I no longer have a commute to catch up on some Netflix and finally get Disney plus!
While this time seems like a never-ending isolation or being grounded from the world, take it as an opportunity for reflection, renewal, and growth. This situation is out of our control, but how we react to it is not. We can make the most of our time with our family, loved ones, friends, or roommates currently living in our household. We can video chat and reconnect with old friends, family members, and maybe learn even more about each other along the way. We can finally try that new recipe, write that new song, write that poem, or paint that next masterpiece. How we react is all in our hands. The perspective we choose to have of our new reality is our choice. Instead of feeling like victims, we can use our separation as a greater reinforcement of our shared common humanity and desire to protect one another through practicing social distancing. We can give to a charity such as Feeding America that helps to feed school children whose families are struggling to provide meals and depend on school meals for their daily nutrition. We can sign up to volunteer with a nursing home such as this CHD Living homes in the UK to adopt a grandparent through virtual video chats to help the elderly combat isolation. We can take a moment out of our day to thank the countless numbers of people on the frontlines working overtime to protect us and our families whether nurses, doctors, pharmacists, janitors, bankers, gas station clerks, cafeteria workers preparing meals for school children, delivery drivers, retail workers, grocery store clerks, and police officers. We can still connect with those around the globe and offer positivity, inspiration, empathy, and friendship.
My dear amazing, valuable, and uniquely made fellow creative, may you know the empowered woman that you are that is more than capable of empowering other women and humanity during this challenging time. May you realize the spark you have amidst the darkness to help another struggling soul that in turn creates a better world for tomorrow.
Wishing you, your friends, and your family all the love, safety, and well-being imaginable.
Kind regards,
Melody Lipford
Response Letter for COVID19
♥
By: Melody Lipford
Dear amazing, valuable, and uniquely made fellow creatives,
I write this letter to you in a swirl of emotions and thoughts about the current unprecedented time we have found ourselves in all over the world. Unfortunately, none of us are exempt from experiencing this pandemic whether we are quarantined at home (stay home, stop the spread), are an essential worker, have loved ones/friends who are essential workers, are working from home, have found ourselves at home without a job, or have loved ones, friends, or community members who are suffering or have suffered from COVID-19.
In the United States, we have become the current global epicenter of the pandemic with hot spots in states such as New York, Washington, and California. I am fortunate to not live in one of the current hotspots of the pandemic, and I am following government restrictions and guidelines to help prevent the spread in my own community. Many states in the U.S. have had “shelter in place” or “stay at home” orders and more are continuing to be added as cases increase. There has been recent legislation passed to help U.S. citizens receive small business loans, stimulus checks, and additional measures to help our people. I am undoubtedly grateful and fortunate to have the ability to work from home. I do not take it for granted as I have friends who aren’t granted the same opportunity.
The frequency of news circulating on our ever-evolving new reality has left many of us (including myself) in a state of sheltered paranoia. Cycling through screens on repeat has become a new mode of communication for most people during this time. Every website we tap or click has some form of “COVID-19 Response” on their page. In turn, I have had to learn to limit the amount of times I check the news per day to safeguard my mental health.
Beyond protecting our physical health through social distancing, it is vitally important that we don’t ignore our mental health and the new state it is in regarding our new reality. Personally, I am grateful to have the ability to work at home to help me keep my routine as normal as possible. In addition, I am so glad to have Home of Passion as a productive and creative outlet when I’m not working. I have also tried to use this time to finally get some self care time and have scared my family a few times with some funky-colored, but relaxing face masks! Plus, I tried to make homemade ravioli and failed, but it was fun nevertheless! Some benefits of this time has been being able to reconnect with friends and family members in other states through video chat. I’m also planning on doing some DIY craft projects such as homemade coasters, painting on canvas, and hand knitting a blanket! Not to mention, I’ve had some time since I no longer have a commute to catch up on some Netflix and finally get Disney plus!
While this time seems like a never-ending isolation or being grounded from the world, take it as an opportunity for reflection, renewal, and growth. This situation is out of our control, but how we react to it is not. We can make the most of our time with our family, loved ones, friends, or roommates currently living in our household. We can video chat and reconnect with old friends, family members, and maybe learn even more about each other along the way. We can finally try that new recipe, write that new song, write that poem, or paint that next masterpiece. How we react is all in our hands. The perspective we choose to have of our new reality is our choice. Instead of feeling like victims, we can use our separation as a greater reinforcement of our shared common humanity and desire to protect one another through practicing social distancing. We can give to a charity such as Feeding America that helps to feed school children whose families are struggling to provide meals and depend on school meals for their daily nutrition. We can sign up to volunteer with a nursing home such as this CHD Living homes in the UK to adopt a grandparent through virtual video chats to help the elderly combat isolation. We can take a moment out of our day to thank the countless numbers of people on the frontlines working overtime to protect us and our families whether nurses, doctors, pharmacists, janitors, bankers, gas station clerks, cafeteria workers preparing meals for school children, delivery drivers, retail workers, grocery store clerks, and police officers. We can still connect with those around the globe and offer positivity, inspiration, empathy, and friendship.
My dear amazing, valuable, and uniquely made fellow creative, may you know the empowered woman that you are that is more than capable of empowering other women and humanity during this challenging time. May you realize the spark you have amidst the darkness to help another struggling soul that in turn creates a better world for tomorrow.
Wishing you, your friends, and your family all the love, safety, and well-being imaginable.
Kind regards,
Melody Lipford
