Stories from Quarantine | Staying Sane?

Hey friends!

I’m on day 56 of quarantine and let me tell you, quarantine is a struggle. While I recently went through a little rebranding (from “Salty + fit with style.” to “Living my best life one flight and one outfit at a time.”), I still want this to be an authentic space.

I know I’m lucky to still be employed and have PLENTY of work to do during quarantine.
I know I’m lucky to be volunteering my time with Heart Broken Anonymous and helping my friend Naz bring this community to the country and the world during quarantine. (If you’re not on the email list, sign up! We’re meeting weekly on Thursdays via Zoom!)
I know I’m lucky to be quarantined with my parents and my sister.
I know I’m lucky that I’ll be able to hug my mom on Mother’s Day.

But ya know what? I’m having a really tough time in quarantine. My entire year feels like it’s been canceled and, for the most part, it has been. Fifty-six days in quarantine and I have had to cancel six trips. SIX. Now, granted three were this month and two we haven’t officially gotten to yet. I was supposed to go to Disney tomorrow afternoon. I’m now just going to the fridge and the pantry tomorrow. I’m so stressed I’m eating sweets now and if you know me, I haven’t regularly eaten sweets since 2016. They still taste weird to me but there’s something comforting about eating a brownie you baked. I’m breaking out all over my chin which I know is hormonal. I’m having the wildest dreams about people I’ve had crushes on within the last year and people I haven’t thought about or seen since 2004. The online shopping for things I cannot even use in quarantine is also ridiculous. Who needs a weekender when they can’t even travel? I’m a MESS over here.

I reached out to my friends and IG followers to see if they were thriving or struggling during quarantine (To those of you I didn’t text asking to respond to the poll and questions and still responded of your own volition, thank you. I only bothered some people to actually have some responses.) We seem to be split down the middle as to where we are, and with many of us, it depends on the day. I was glad to know I’m not the only one shopping or too much of an extrovert or sick of only seeing my friends via FaceTime/Zoom/Houseparty. I often find myself in other’s stories as an empath so, with permission, this is where my friends and followers are:
Colleen is really missing her job at the Magic Kingdom (I mean who wouldn’t) and the freedom to come and go in her own life as she pleases.
Mikaela is an extrovert so not being able to be out/socialize has brought on a wave of depression & anxiety.
Rubia built an incredible garden and you can tell by her IG story how much she loves her plants!
Ashley is being more productive at work.
Rebecca T is reading a lot, has time to reflect, garden, and catch up on sleep. She’s also challenged by the isolation, not seeing friends or being able to get out of the house.
Katie cleaned her parents’ basement which she finds to be a huge win. (Author’s note: Katie’s basement is the only place in her house that I’ve never seen in the almost 24 years we’ve been friends so I can’t speak to what it was like before but I trust her.)
Brittani is having a tough time separating work and home, but finds that quarantine is allowing her relationship with her fiancé, Drew, to grow in a new way.
Taylor‘s biggest challenge is moving her body enough. (I hear ya, sis!)
Kim‘s (I’m just copying and pasting what she texted me because I couldn’t articulate it better myself) wins: cooking at home more, eating healthier, exercising more, more productive at work, keeping my home cleaner, time to reorganize my home, less pressure about social activities, not having to feel guilty about wanting to cancel plans because there are no plans!!!
challenges: missing hanging out with my best friend, worrying about people I know working in healthcare and other essential jobs, inability to properly grieve everyone/everything we have lost or will lose, at-home hair/nail care, idiots who don’t wear masks while on narrow city sidewalks, the absolute morons exacerbating public health crises by gathering to protest stay-at-home orders, for a while the specific kind of peanut butter I like was out of stock everywhere, feeling like there is nothing I can do for my best friend who is about to have her first child, feeling like there is nothing I can do for my mom for mother’s day, waiting on both of my parents’ coronavirus test results , not knowing what I could possibly do for my parents if they test positive, a whole summer without farmers markets (even though they are planning to open no way in hell am I going to that public health fiasco), witnessing the utter failures of so many of our elected officials, not getting to sit in coffee shops for hours at a time just to read…
Liz no longer has excuses not do do online exercise classes.
Joya is enjoying not having to see people. (Despite being an extrovert, I can understand that)
Briana is definitely feeling the work challenges of completing clients’ legal packages and organizing first zoom calls. (I FEEL!)
Cheryl has time to be bored which gives her time to think and time to grow creatively.
Chelsea is taking time to learn new skills. (GIVE ME SOME OF THAT TIME, GIRL!)
Sara is not feeling being alone 24/7.
Olivia is missing friends, family and connecting with other humans but is realizing that the things that can really bring her joy can be found at home. She’s also getting creative in how she stays connected with loved ones.
Ellen struggled hitting that proverbial quarantine wall a few weeks ago but since then she’s on an upswing!
Lauren has cooked OVER 40 meals from Bon Appetit! I followed up and asked what her favorite recipe she’s made has been. Sour Cream and Onion Biscuits. Uh yum!
Anne loves not wearing shoes. Her feet and hips also agree with her.
Nahime is having trouble staying motivated because all she wants to do is take naps. (I totally understand! That’s why I don’t take lunches sometimes because I’ll nap and won’t wake up for hours.)
Sabrina was challenged by the virus but beat it so that is definitely a win!

In an effort to keep my head on straight:

I’m in a book club with some friends of Humanity & Hope United (the organization I’ve gone to Honduras with). We’re reading “Beginner’s Pluck” and I’m really enjoying it!
My sister and I ordered some diamond paintings from Amazon to work on. She has completed one of them. I put mine between a mattress and boxspring to flatten it out. So I’d say I’ve started. They look so cool but I have incredibly shaky hands from my migraines so I’m starting to have second thoughts.
My sister and I are also watching a lot of our favorite movies and TV shows. In like a week and a half, we watched all seven seasons of Boy Meets World on Disney+ and now we’re watching Girl Meets World. The other night we watched the three part episode where Riley tells Lucas they’re brother and sister because she realizes Maya likes him, too. I cried a steady stream of tears the whole night. You’d have thought I gave up someone I liked.
I’ve also been going to our weekly Heart Broken Anonymous meetings. Mostly I’m just there to listen and hold people’s stories in my heart, but even that alone helps bridge the gap. I love getting to pop out to LA for in person meetings so it’s almost like getting to do that… minus being able to grab Alfred’s beforehand.
My mom, sister, and I started a weekly Zoom game night with my best friend Nina and her mom. It’s really fun! We’ve only played Quiplash so far, but I bought a pack of games and I’m excited to see what we’ll play this week!
I’m working on the perfect margarita recipe. When I have that nailed down, I’ll blog about it. Until then, I’ll be drinking all of my tries. Recommendations? Let me know!
I’ve played A TON of Candy Crush you’d think it was 2013. But here we are.
I’ve attempted to get a Nintendo Switch like a million times but they’re always sold out. Looks like I won’t be visiting you on Animal Crossing any time soon.
I did bite the bullet and buy AirPods and honestly there probably the greatest thing I’ve bought during quarantine. They’re great if I’m on a call and need to fill up my water bottle or step away from my desk. I can still participate without dragging my computer with me. And among the many anxiety triggering moments of quarantine, the grocery store has become one of them. But listening to music while I shop has helped. I got the first generation ones (no Pros for me yet) because Target has them on sale when you order online!
Speaking of Target, I’ve been frequenting their Drive Up function. I can’t get all of my groceries this way, but I can get most of my dry goods this way which limits how much time I’m in the store. It’s such a godsend. I just can’t wait for the days I don’t feel like I’m in a thriller in the store as I try to get groceries for the family and get out. I hope Target misses my leisurely walks up and down the aisles like I do.
I’m on TikTok. There isn’t really much else to say about that…

That’s where we’re at right now. If you’re thriving or struggling or both, let me know in the comments and also share your wins and your challenges. Like our friends the East High Wildcats,