Perhaps the hardest thing many of us have had to accept about being in quarantine as a result of the coronavirus pandemic is the postponement of life plans both big and small.
I was going to spend more time in Europe for work, for instance, and was prepared to make some necessary moves on the career front. Now that everything has been shutdown and I'm home, I've had more time to reflect (which is fine) but it doesn't make what could have been any less disappointing. But such is life, right? There are so many things over which we have little or no control.
After Redditor ShadowDragon0001 asked the online community, "What has quarantine ruined for you?" people opened up and shared all the things they've had to miss out on while in isolation.
"I was trying to transition..."
I was trying to transition out of my current career when this whole thing came down. Now all that's on hold for several months.
"If it's not..."
Dating has become pretty ruined for me. If it's not someone freaking out about the virus it's someone who completely doesn't believe in it. Weird times, just gonna stay at home and grow my garden.
"I love my friends..."
Funnily, social media. Ever since this has all happens I've retreated into myself. I stopped checking all social media and just used less interactive ones like Reddit & Youtube.
I love my friends, but I can't bring myself to catch up on mundane quarantine BS right now.
"People."
People. I work in a convenience store during the graveyard shift and there were tons more people during the "lockdown" coming in with all their kids at night for snacks and letting their kids touch everything, and people have been in general way more rude to me.
"Had major surgery..."
My surgical recovery. Had major surgery on both my jaws on 14th February, a couple of weeks before my first check up lockdown started. My follow ups (at two separate hospitals with two separate doctors) were both rescheduled like three times and eventually I got a meeting set up with the surgeon on April 1st.
I hadn't had anything looked at post surgery for a month and a half, I couldn't eat because the plastic holding my teeth in place wasn't removed yet, so I'd been living almost exclusively on scrambled eggs.
On March 31st I got a phone call from the surgeon saying that they'd have to postpone our meeting the next day. I very nearly had a complete meltdown. He asked how I was coping with recovery and I told him that it wasn't going as well as possible because I couldn't eat.
My appointment went forward April 1st as planned because the surgeon was appalled about the fact that I'd not had any kind of post surgery check up. Poor man was in the full bee keeper suit but I've been able to eat and brush my teeth.
"I studied many years..."
I studied many years for my PhD and was supposed to have a fancy ceremonial defense in the Netherlands in a building hundreds of years old and a committee with funny hats and friends and family all over. We did it virtually last week and of course it was a fun day, but no way in person wouldn't have been cooler. Also, the worst part was the internet cut out for my promoter just when they announced the doctorate in his entire neighborhood, so we missed the traditional speech he would have made about our time together. :(
Also, wedding celebration has been delayed from this summer to August 2021.
"The thought that home schooling..."
The thought that home schooling my children may actually be better for our collective mental health. Turns out, my little social butterflies don't really handle being alone, and I'm exhausted of being mom, teacher, and best friend 24/7. I can't wait for fall...
"I swear..."
My social skills. I swear if I were to see my friends now, I would not know how to act around them anymore.
"Job opportunities..."
Job opportunities—basically the professional career I worked years to achieve has been stolen from me.
"Considering a symphony..."
Symphony.
Considering a symphony consists of a lot of people grouped together performing for a lot of people grouped together, I've not been able to play music with anybody for months now.
Do you have something to confess to George? Text "Secrets" or "
" to +1 (310) 299-9390 to talk to him about it.
@TheWhiteHouse/X
