If you want to know empathy, put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Try and understand their thoughts, fears, anxieties, struggles, and imagine it was you.
In this COVID-19 pandemic, we see people who have caught the virus, who didn’t believe they could get it (young people especially). We see people who have the virus who still have a family to take care of. We see people who are still working at grocery stores and vet hospitals and as UPS drivers and everything in between, still hanging on by a thread, trying to take care of our society.
If we want things to go back to the way they were and feel “normal” again, we need to do our part and stay at home. We need to understand the people who are trying to keep us together, while we spend time apart. We need to understand the people who have been affected by the virus and how–no matter who you are, what your age is, or what your health is like–anyone is at risk.
Here are some COVID-19 stories:
A young girl with the virus.
Body spasms everywhere for over a week now. Could barely breathe. My throat & chest are sore from coughing. I had lost my apatite, mental clarity gone, anxiety 1,000%. Still sick but eating again & feeling semi normal mentally. Struggling to digest food.#MyCovidStory
— Crystal Lynn (@crystal_lynntw) March 24, 2020
Stay 6 feet away from people, even your loved ones.
#MyCovidstory after my husband was frighteningly I'll and told it was most likely Covid-19 at the hospital (no testing)- he is slowly mending. I'm now sick with it. My lungs feel burnt. On a bright note, my kids started 1st day of homeschool and we're all still alive.
— Stephanie Avery (@denverstu) March 24, 2020
A mom with the virus (read the thread for the full story):
On 3/12 I started to feel very weak and tired. I blamed it on my insomnia. The next day, I began trembling from being so cold, had a headache, sore throat, nausea and felt achy all over. My temp was at 102. I took some ibuprofen and laid down for awhile. #MyCovidStory
— Kristen Darling 🖤🥀 (@KDarling_Author) March 24, 2020
Anxious, frustrated, and scared grocery store workers:
#MyCovidStory I'm terrified also. Both my mom and I work at a grocery store. She is older, but will not stay home for financial reasons. I'm scared she will get sick, or I will and won't be there for her. People keep treating shopping like it is a boredom reliever! #StayAtHome
— Michelle Heckathorn (@mheckathor1) March 24, 2020
Making the tough (but morally good) decisions:
https://twitter.com/PercyHavok/status/1242242989466038273
UPS drivers out in the world:
#MyCovidStory
Working more than ever, knocking on more doors than ever
As a mail carrier my experience is opposite others
Working 10 hour days, 6 days/week, touching a hundred Amazon boxes and hundreds of mailboxes a day
Someone should study if the USPS is spreading COVID 19 pic.twitter.com/NMfzKzbG48— SmartCar (@SmartCar13) March 24, 2020
Nurses are badasses who deserve everything good in this world!!!
#mycovidstory I am a nurse, helping to set up the first all COVID hospital in the nation. Exhausted, nervous, and worried how all my colleagues will cope with such difficult and dire work in the coming days.
— Ms E (a.k.a. COVID ICU nurse) (@TheMerrySadist) March 24, 2020
Healthcare workers helping those who can’t help themselves.
#MyCovidStory I work w the elderly, I go into their homes as a health care worker every day, & it's different ppl, so I go into multiple homes a wk. Not only am I potentially exposed EVERY day, but I also put them at risk. I have to go bc most of them cannot do 4 themselves.
— Rebekah Ruth (@rebekah_starks) March 24, 2020
Now, not all of these stories are bad and scary and anxiety-inducing. Here are some stories of light and kindness (and maybe a little bit of humor?):
“Not useless anymore.”
https://twitter.com/Judy_Taya/status/1242364953857863680
👏 🙌
PENNMed #HealthCareWorkers #MyCovidStory #GeneralStrike #COVIDActNow #nursesareheroes We are grateful for today⚕️⛑️ 🙏 Amen pic.twitter.com/wSYFmV5Xne
— Mr. Harris / A:FF (@AmenAfterShave) March 24, 2020
The humans are home and all cats are pissed.
My cats are noticeably confused as to why I don't leave the apartment anymore. They had a whole routine down, and I seem to be getting in the way. #MyCovidStory https://t.co/d6AHm0zkTY
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) March 24, 2020
Dogs as coworkers:
Today, I heard my colleagues whispering before I got in the room and they immediately stopped talking and averted their eyes. I KNOW YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ME! Office rumor mills are the worst. #WorkFromHomeLife #COVID19 #StayAtHomeOrder #MyCovidStory #dogcoworker pic.twitter.com/6FRYNcyx09
— dogwalksintoabar (@dogwalksintobar) March 24, 2020
Stay safe, stay at home, wash your hands, keep a 6ft distance from people, don’t touch your face. Hang in there everyone.
