Day 7 - 106 -- (Dis)Connection

Well, today held two phone meetings that helped deal with the feelings of not accomplishing anything. Two more need my attention soon, too. Later in the day, one major project was submitted. It felt great to see it leave my desk for a while as others assess its merit. I managed to complete sewing of two face masks. They aren't perfectly sewn, but they work and that is all that matters, to be honest.

On one phone call today, I tried to explain that alone and lonely are two very different concepts, even though people seem to use them interchangeably. Many assume alone means lonely. The two ideas don't always occur in tandem. Being isolated at home with a furry critter but no other human can be close to alone and is much the way I've lived most of my adult life. What I have felt often during the last 30 days, is close to loneliness -- like when i want to sit with a friend over tea or dinner at a restaurant or our respective homes, or to go for a walk or drive to look at seasonal changes of nature or an amazing mountain or ocean vista. That feeling is not alone, but closes in on lonely.

Connection   with others can help with the stress of being alone at this uncertain time -- actually, it can help a huge amount. I've told people that calmness can visit for a while after chatting. I suppose this could be considered a healthy coping strategy <smile>.  Yes. It is no where near the same as being physically together, but as the Prime Minister noted today, it isn't easy to isolate, but if we give up now because as a group some people seem to feel this process is getting old, simply means that more people will get sick and we will be isolated even longer. This is making a difference and it will become more apparent as the next few weeks should show. It takes us back to something I'm sure I wrote in an earlier blog --' the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few' (or 'the one') (as stated by Spock in various Star Trek productions). So, being alone will help based on sound epidemiological principles and theories. Being lonely needs to be addressed with strategies that will maintain current public health and public emergency guidelines as well as regulations around physical distancing and group gatherings. Many mental health supports are available online or from community agencies. Remaining isolated won't be easy, but it will help. So as the premier stated, "Stay the blazes home!" or as written in the full page notice in the weekly paper, "Step up. Not out. #StayHome  It's time to do your part. Spread the message, not the virus."

Thinking of the isolation and alone-ness we are experiencing made me think of space missions and how they have the potential to lead to loneliness or 'home sickness' when missing family and friends. That brought a song to mind. Imagine <smile>. While some of the lyrics are a bit dismal, the first few lines fit well with both concepts -- alone and lonely. Stay safe. Stay home. Enjoy!

Astronaut -- Simple Plan