#AloneTogether — that’s been our mantra for months.
And it hasn’t been easy. Being stuck at home has been rough. Having the extent of my social interactions be with the same five people that consist of my offspring, hubby, and parents has been limiting, to say the least.
But here’s the thing: We were all experiencing the same exact thing. We were #AloneTogether, and as corny as that hashtag sounds, it turns out it was a real thing.
Facebook and Instagram feeds were full of hilarious memes and entertaining ideas to “survive quarantine.” My phone was blowing up with text threads from my mom friends venting about our individual woes, relating about social isolation, making 5 billion snacks a day while making a competition out of who had gone the longest without washing their hair. My co-workers and I were all commiserating about awful Zoom meetings and working from home in our makeshift offices with kids screaming in the other room.
It was awful and isolating, yet somehow, I felt supported more than ever. I was in the trenches of quarantine and so was the rest of the world.
But here we are at the beginning of the next phase. And while I’m still a little fuzzy on what exactly that means, I do know that it means little for me. With some at-risk members in my inner circle, my family isn’t comfortable with venturing out into this uncharted world just yet.
That’s right: We’ve decided to linger in Phase 1 for a bit longer. And while this is 100% our choice, I can’t help but feel sad. Sad and alone, watching the world reopen without me.
The rest of the world is excited about getting back to regular life and I’m still here where I’ve been. Nothing has changed for me. I’m still working from home, having groceries delivered, mourning canceled plans, and socializing with my family and that one potted plant.
And it feels like I’m the only one.
Gone are the days of virtual happy hour. Now I’m staring longingly at photos of my co-workers having a beer at our favorite spot.
My friends flaunt their much-needed new haircuts, fresh with summer highlights and layers and I’m still trimming my split ends with my kitchen scissors and watching my brunette hair turn silver right before my eyes.
Playdates at the park, bonfires with s’mores, and swimming at family gatherings are soon to follow in these upcoming summer months and I’m over here trying to explain to my kids why we still aren’t hanging with our friends.
Before, the rules were clear. The guidelines were being followed by most people and everyone was in the same exact boat. Now we’re all going about things slightly differently. Some people are diving back into “regular” life head first, grateful to be able to shop and eat at restaurants and hang with friends. Others are taking it a bit slower, dipping their toes in the socializing pool with small outdoor barbecues and masked trips to Costco.
And then there’s the small group of the rest of us. At home.
I know one of these days, whether it’s next week or next year, I’ll be out there with them. We’ll all be back to the life of hanging at people’s houses and concerts and jobs that require you to leave the home. These months of seclusion will be a distant memory.
But right now, as the world is excited to reopen without me, I’m suddenly feeling more lonely than ever before.
