How did the pandemic change you?

[User 180565 is taking donation]

As we're somewhat getting things back to normal has the pandemic changed your way of thinking or gotten you use to more in home activities? I think for me it's shown me that you can definitely get a lot more done at home if the other party cooperates. I'm a lot more open minded towards others capabilities of sicknesses and I'll ess on what they can and can't do as well as the over whelming work that doctors have to go through just to see a patient.

[wildmaven]

Aug 11, 2022 9:22:08 GMT -8 User 180565 is taking donation said:

As we're somewhat getting things back to normal has the pandemic changed your way of thinking or gotten you use to more in home activities? I think for me it's shown me that you can definitely get a lot more done at home if the other party cooperates. I'm a lot more open minded towards others capabilities of sicknesses and I'll ess on what they can and can't do as well as the over whelming work that doctors have to go through just to see a patient.

The pandemic made me unemployed. Jim and I had just started our move from CA to NV when the pandemic hit. I already had a job in NV, having quit my job in CA, and we were in the process of selling our house in CA and buying one in NV. By the time the pandemic hit, they had already filled my job in CA. Now, I'm out of work and have applied for dozens of jobs here in our town, but they'd much rather hire a teenager than a 58 year old, and it's made me much more cynical. The subsequent division of our country has made so many really quick to anger, which makes it unpleasant to go out. I miss the happy me.

[Darkmage4]

Pandemic changed nothing for me. I'm self employed, I'm a recluse, I haven't gotten sick in over 10 years now. Even when I go out to the store or whatever, nothings changed in that aspect. I hate masks, so I did very little shopping and let others do it instead, since it was mandatory to wear them at the time. Now that it's no longer mandatory, I go to the store like normal. Otherwise. My life never changed one bit.

[bigballofyarn]

Darkmage4,

Same here. I've worked from home since 2012. I still see the people I want to see and avoid those I don't want to see. I haven't gotten sick since 2012 or earlier. Wearing a mask in public is no different to me from wearing shoes. It's not even a problem.

[Darkmage4]

Aug 12, 2022 9:32:39 GMT -8 bigballofyarn said:

Darkmage4 ,

Same here. I've worked from home since 2012. I still see the people I want to see and avoid those I don't want to see. I haven't gotten sick since 2012 or earlier. Wearing a mask in public is no different to me from wearing shoes. It's not even a problem.

If I didn't have to wear shoes. I'd be happy. lol. My biggest problem is claustrophobia. When that mask goes on, my anxiety goes up, my heart rate over 150 and I start freaking out to the point of a massive panic attack. I don't even wear scarfs in negative 50F degree temp, and it's even harsher since I live on a farm. The wind is terrible! I just wear my hoodie and sweats and I'm good to go. I've got Wisconsin blood in me. I'll go out in shorts to get the mail if I have to. lol.

[bigballofyarn]

Aug 12, 2022 9:58:56 GMT -8 Darkmage4 said:

Aug 12, 2022 9:32:39 GMT -8 bigballofyarn said:

Darkmage4 ,

Same here. I've worked from home since 2012. I still see the people I want to see and avoid those I don't want to see. I haven't gotten sick since 2012 or earlier. Wearing a mask in public is no different to me from wearing shoes. It's not even a problem.

If I didn't have to wear shoes. I'd be happy. lol. My biggest problem is claustrophobia. When that mask goes on, my anxiety goes up, my heart rate over 150 and I start freaking out to the point of a massive panic attack. I don't even wear scarfs in negative 50F degree temp, and it's even harsher since I live on a farm. The wind is terrible! I just wear my hoodie and sweats and I'm good to go. I've got Wisconsin blood in me. I'll go out in shorts to get the mail if I have to. lol.

I understand. Masks can make it hard for me to breathe, especially when it's hot. I guess I just mean that mask mandates are the least of my problems. They actually make it easier for me now that I never have to wear makeup. Haha.

I'm sorry you went through some anxiety and claustrophobia. I'm glad you don't have to wear one anymore.

[Darkmage4]

Aug 12, 2022 10:03:09 GMT -8 bigballofyarn said:

Aug 12, 2022 9:58:56 GMT -8 Darkmage4 said:

If I didn't have to wear shoes. I'd be happy. lol. My biggest problem is claustrophobia. When that mask goes on, my anxiety goes up, my heart rate over 150 and I start freaking out to the point of a massive panic attack. I don't even wear scarfs in negative 50F degree temp, and it's even harsher since I live on a farm. The wind is terrible! I just wear my hoodie and sweats and I'm good to go. I've got Wisconsin blood in me. I'll go out in shorts to get the mail if I have to. lol.

I understand. Masks can make it hard for me to breathe, especially when it's hot. I guess I just mean that mask mandates are the least of my problems. They actually make it easier for me now that I never have to wear makeup. Haha.

I'm sorry you went through some anxiety and claustrophobia. I'm glad you don't have to wear one anymore.

Yeah, lol. I heard that comment a lot. My wife doesn't wear makeup so that was never a problem with her. lol. But I definitely didn't mind not having to go anywhere for a year. xD I don't like dealing with people. Working at Walmart made that a horrible experience. lol. Which is why I work at home now.

[HoudiniDerek]

The main thing that has changed is my perception of time.

[User 180565 is taking donation]

Aug 12, 2022 13:29:16 GMT -8 HoudiniDerek said:

The main thing that has changed is my perception of time.

Have you tried zooming for that?

[🎶Sossity🎶]

Aug 11, 2022 10:28:13 GMT -8 wildmaven said:

Aug 11, 2022 9:22:08 GMT -8 User 180565 is taking donation said:

As we're somewhat getting things back to normal has the pandemic changed your way of thinking or gotten you use to more in home activities? I think for me it's shown me that you can definitely get a lot more done at home if the other party cooperates. I'm a lot more open minded towards others capabilities of sicknesses and I'll ess on what they can and can't do as well as the over whelming work that doctors have to go through just to see a patient.

The pandemic made me unemployed. Jim and I had just started our move from CA to NV when the pandemic hit. I already had a job in NV, having quit my job in CA, and we were in the process of selling our house in CA and buying one in NV. By the time the pandemic hit, they had already filled my job in CA. Now, I'm out of work and have applied for dozens of jobs here in our town, but they'd much rather hire a teenager than a 58 year old, and it's made me much more cynical. The subsequent division of our country has made so many really quick to anger, which makes it unpleasant to go out. I miss the happy me.

😢

[HoudiniDerek]

Aug 12, 2022 13:49:36 GMT -8 User 180565 is taking donation said:

Aug 12, 2022 13:29:16 GMT -8 HoudiniDerek said:

The main thing that has changed is my perception of time.

Have you tried zooming for that?

Yes, but it has not helped my understanding of time. 

[Robyn]

The pandemic opened my eyes to the reality of social division. So many family members and friends who I thought I knew, openly expressed their opinions on the way that various organizations and health care professionals have handled the pandemic. Growing up, despite my very religious and politically conservative background, my parents made sure I see the family doctor twice yearly, get all shots and vaccines, eat heathy and exercise. It was part of life, it was expected that we trust our medical professionals and there were no debates. Sure, we had some friends who were anti-pharmaceutical and what not, but for my childhood brain, going to the doctor and following their advice was equally as important as taking the car to the shop and letting mechanics help fix it.

When the pandemic really began to be realized as a serious threat, I was in spring semester online. We had just moved across the country and were trying to adjust to a new culture, environment and no longer living with family for years. It was then that I saw the panic began to really build up. I remember going grocery shopping one evening and the store was filled with shoppers like it was black Friday. Shelves were empty. I remember standing in the longest line to self checkout I'd seen in years, trying to process what was happening and why. It would slowly make sense later to me just the sheer reality of public panic in our society.

It was very strange watching everyone adjust to online school, as I had been online for years. It was really strange seeing what used to be mandatory meetings and appointments in person, suddenly happening over zoom as if it were always that way. The amount of adjustments as we went from 100% social and always out, to hiding in our tiny apartment we just moved into, away from family and friends, was very mind opening. My spouse had a job, which was considered essential for some reason, so we didn't have to worry about income, but their preparations for work changed. And the kind of rude customer interactions changed as suddenly the very idea of wearing a mask and social distancing was justification to being mad and screaming at their face, creating scenes, destroying store property etc. It was like the customer stereotype of a Karen was given more ammo.

The little we did go outside, it was surreal seeing the city without the smog. It was so odd seeing so little cars on the road. It was really nice having public places to ourselves. The emotional worry about getting covid definitely put a strain to my heart. I was scared. I was raising a child for the first time in a society that was actively protesting and dividing itself over what seemed to be basic health and social standards. It probably didn't help it was the final year of damage from a president that I had long lost hope and respect for. Adding insult to injury, seeing so many family and friends support this individual and question my own expression of fear and frustration was also aggravating.

It has opened my mind and eye to the reality of time. I'm approaching my 30s, and what used to be my childhood is now a nostalgic memory of emotions and experiences. So many people I interacted with daily are no longer in my life. Just their ten or fifteen year old memories in my mind. So much hope and curiosity as a child and teenager now feels threatened by the pressures of daily living and society. What I thought was once common sense and non-negotiable such as following the counsel from health professionals is now considered irresponsible, laughable and controversial. The conspiracy theories went wild, the division cut deep. I truly understand the humor of not discussion religion or politics at thanksgiving. All it does is divide.

In a bittersweet way, I kind of miss the chaos of the pandemic. I miss having a social reason to mask and distant. It was nice to not feel like a bad or crazy person, like I do now in public. It feels like we've more or less given up with following and taking the pandemic seriously. It feels like society burned out, and with the vaccines and boosters, have decided its all over. Politics also didn't help with this narrative, with a president change that happened now so many family and friends associate the vaccine and pandemic with some conspiracy from the democratic party. Suddenly because I voted democrat, I'm at fault for covid?

I know everyone experienced the last two years differently. It just felt so surreal watching like a movie, as society re-wrote their own rules, inspired by political power. We also had a lot of social challenges and breaking news the past two years, with black lives matter increasing, so many celebrity deaths, ending a long-overdue war and seeing live on social media another war start. It became laughable when crazy news headlines surfaced such as murder hornets, crazy monkeys and so on. It felt like we lowered our standards so much we have become unbothered by what's going on.

I know I said a lot about so much, but the pandemic really changed me. Not  so much with a loss of a loved one or a job, but emotionally. Socially. It has been an eye opening experience that has taught me to appreciate life while we can.

[Linette]

Aug 11, 2022 10:28:13 GMT -8 wildmaven said:

Aug 11, 2022 9:22:08 GMT -8 User 180565 is taking donation said:

As we're somewhat getting things back to normal has the pandemic changed your way of thinking or gotten you use to more in home activities? I think for me it's shown me that you can definitely get a lot more done at home if the other party cooperates. I'm a lot more open minded towards others capabilities of sicknesses and I'll ess on what they can and can't do as well as the over whelming work that doctors have to go through just to see a patient.

The pandemic made me unemployed. Jim and I had just started our move from CA to NV when the pandemic hit. I already had a job in NV, having quit my job in CA, and we were in the process of selling our house in CA and buying one in NV. By the time the pandemic hit, they had already filled my job in CA. Now, I'm out of work and have applied for dozens of jobs here in our town, but they'd much rather hire a teenager than a 58 year old, and it's made me much more cynical. The subsequent division of our country has made so many really quick to anger, which makes it unpleasant to go out. I miss the happy me.

Same here when it comes to employment. Actually, I found employment not only does it not cater to woman over 30 but employment in general has gotten pretty bad. I just quit one that was just too much stress for me from both customers and employees with "0" support.

I lost a relationship I don't miss glad that's over with, that was a disaster and left one heck of an emotional scar, now on stress pills to relieve some if not most or all the emotional stress and anxiety attacks I keep having from everything. Money, work, flashbacks, mean customers and horrible jobs.

What did I gain tho, as family I didn't know I had and I still have my furbaby, Dewey. ☺️

[Former Member]

I found myself getting very angry and depressed and paranoid. I had a meltdown a couple of weeks ago.

[wildmaven]

Sept 10, 2022 15:39:27 GMT -8 lucylacemaker said:

I found myself getting very angry and depressed and paranoid. I had a meltdown a couple of weeks ago.

There is so much frustration from the pandemic that it's understandable to feel that way. With information coming from so many viewpoints, disrespect from some on each side, economic and political changes, the want to get back to a normal way of life, and so much more, it can be overwhelming at times.