As I am writing this blog post, my mind is racing rapidly with little or no thought or preparation being put into it. This is a rarity for me but I feel that in order for me to get the most out of this post is by talking what is on my mind as of this very second. If you’ve been living under a rock somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, then you’re not aware of what’s been ongoing around the world. If you haven’t been living under a rock, then you are aware of what’s happening. There’s no in-betweens here because it’s virtually been the only thing that’s been on people’s radar for a while now.
The world is currently in a pandemic, a coronavirus pandemic, aka “COVID-19.” It came up in China in December of 2019 and has been steadily progressing and spreading all across the world. There’ve been nearly 200,000 reported cases in over 160 countries as of this blog post. Not much was known about this disease when it arrived on the scene but since it has, it has gradually consumed the earth from hemisphere to hemisphere, and that’s not an exaggeration.
Virtually all activities have stopped from sports to shows to restaurant and food services, and so on and so forth. I have never seen anything like this in my 23 years of living and I highly doubt I ever will see anything close to the magnitude of this anytime soon. Currently in the U.S., citizens are encouraged to limit the amount of people you come into contact with at a certain time. There’s also a recommendation of putting at least six feet in between yourself and a person you’re interacting with.
The whole thing has been chaotic and has dominated the news for much of this year. President Donald Trump declared a national state of emergency for the United States. The disease spreads very easily from person to person by means of coughing, sneezing or touching. It’s very concerning and has taken a toll on the lives of people all around the world.
One of the biggest effects of this outbreak is the cancellation of traveling abroad. As of now, the United States has placed a ban on traveling to European countries for the next month. Additionally, Asian countries such as China and South Korea are also off the tables. Schools and universities have shut down across the country and have transitioned to online course teachings.
This is the most serious situation that I have experienced with so far in my lifetime. It surpasses Hurricane Sandy from 2012 which wiped out two full weeks of school for me and cost significant damage to thousands of homes along the east coast. It’s a scary time in the world.
But if there’s one thing that I’ve learned, it’s that you can’t live life in fear. I feel very hypocritical putting that down because I don’t do a good job of living by that motto at all. I get anxious very easily and almost always look for something to worry about. However, I’m trying to take it slow with this virus. I am really trying not to think about it and do whatever it takes to ensure that me and those who I love are healthy and happy.
I am taking precautionary measures a lot more than I normally would. I am washing my hands more thoroughly now, covering my mouth when I sneeze or cough, and limiting how much I am interacting with other people in-person. But above all of that, I’ve found a great way to keep my mind off of this virus-by going outside.
It may sound corny or cliche to some but going outside and getting lost in nature and not having so many things to worry about truly is a blessing and a great way to ease the tension. I am currently working on a new video for YouTube which documents the scenery of my hometown of Stony Point, New York, in Rockland County. I’ve been staying motivated through this project in order to remain creative and fresh with ideas. I never want anything to slip through my fingers if I have the chance to accomplish something unique.
I’ve been running all over my town in the back-wooded areas looking at different places where I know not many people come to explore. I’ve visited a battlefield which was even visited by George Washington back in the 18th century during the American Revolutionary War. There is one specific spot I’m waiting to film at but I am waiting for the spring/summer time to go there. It’s a waterfall not far from my house. I’ve seen glimpses of it but I’ve never stepped down there to see it clearly with my own two eyes.
It’s so beautiful and I get goosebumps just thinking about going down there to admire its mystique and aura. But in terms of the coronavirus, I’m aware of it, but I’m not going to drive myself nuts over it. It’s a difficult time in the world for sure but all we can do is stay positive and smart. Eventually, this will end or slow down and we can all go back to our everyday lives and occupations that we tend to take for granted.
The World is Yours 