This post was originally published on May 5, 2020.
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This isn’t easy, is it? This whole pandemic situation. It’s especially tough when the days are warm and the sun’s out and the birds are chirping, the bees buzzing and all the buds are blooming. Naturally, here in New England, we crave going outside and feeling the warmth of the sun on our skin after our long winters.
These are the days when we start spending more time outdoors. We start gathering with friends outside of our homes for cold afternoon drinkies and springtime al fresco dinners because we’re just so excited for the warmer weather already!
So, what to do during these new frontier days? We’re all tired of being cooped up inside, away from family and friends, especially those of us who live alone and feel particularly isolated. We just want some normal-ish socializing while still being considerate of the health and safety of our friends as well as being mindful and respectful of the local directives set in place for social distancing.
I’ve come up with a few tips that my friends and I have been practicing to help get through these strange days.
Before going any further, please note that I highly recommend using your best judgement for yourself. If you feel like a gathering may be getting too big for your comfort, send your apologies and stay home. However, if you can safely distance while being in company, do so safely!
With that said, here are three tips for social distancing outside:
Tip One: Keep it Small
Here in my state, we’re not allowed to gather with more than a handful of people. Be respectful of our government officials and stick to it. If you have a yard where friends can sit at safe distances, limit the number of people you invite. Assure others that you still love them and once this is all over, you’ll have a backyard party that everyone’s invited to. Also, by limiting the number of people, it won’t add to all the anxiety we’re already feeling pretty much on a daily basis.
Tip Two: Bring Your Own…
Bring your own lawn chair/blanket, drinks, food, disinfectant spray, hand sanitizer, and, of course, mask (just in case). You can still keep to yourself, while staying six feet away from your friends.
Tip Three: Laugh
Enjoy your friends’ company! Don’t forget to talk about things other than the pandemic and all the scary, negative news out there. Remember to joke around and laugh! A lot! A year from now, you’ll get together with these same friends you’ve social distanced with and remember back to these strange and unprecedented times we’re living in now. Months down the road, we’ll be reminded of how we passed the time safely, separately, but also with each other.
This, too, will pass. The world will be different here on out and we’ll adjust to another new normal. Maybe for those of us who weren’t really bothered by things like germs and thought that a little dirt never hurt much, will be more mindful of disinfecting everyday objects with more frequency. Maybe for others, we won’t take for granted the freedom we will have again of being able to gather together more and share one another’s company and make memories. I know I’m looking forward to hugging my friends again.
Be safe, friends!
Lots of love,
Kristina xoxo
