I realize that the U.S. has not been as severely restrained as much of the rest of the world. My friends in Italy and Spain and to a lesser degree those in France and Germany have endured far worse with many more restrictions but, today I feel really isolated and confined.
Generally, I am a glass half full kind of person, I try to see the positive whenever possible in difficult situations. I can’t do that today. It seems like the walls are closing in around me in so many ways.
The physical limitations requested to limit trips outside your home wherever possible is the most obvious restraint. I’ve tried hard to go beyond the shelter in place and maybe that’s part of the problem, I need to be outside more.
Those restrictions lead to the inevitable loss of physical contact with friends and family, it’s been weeks since I’ve seen my closest friends, people who I’m used to seeing on a regular basis.
The ongoing medical situation with my father is also weighing heavily upon me. The shelter in place has not allowed me to see him except one day last week, in a parking lot, from about 10 feet and only for a few minutes. I just heard that he’s back in the hospital and with the CV-19 situation, even my mother can’t be with him. My sister, a nurse, is not optimistic.
I’m not used to being inactive at work but it’s just so slow. Calls to prospects go unanswered as businesses are shut down. Voicemail boxes are full, emails not responded to. I still feel like I should be at my desk so, I am.
As I said, I’m generally a very positive person but today, the last several days, I just have this sense of helplessness and dread. Maybe this blog is my therapy, getting some of this off my chest, saying them out loud seems to help.
It’s a cool but beautiful day here in Dallas. I’ll focus on that.