Tuesday cannon fodder: good days, bad days

Yesterday was not a great day for me.

Before I say more, I know that in the grand scheme of things, I’m doing alright. I’m fortunate enough that me and my close family and friends are all healthy (knock on wood) and that feeling generally anxious and overwhelmed by the state of the world is the worst of my worries. But yesterday, I was out of sorts. I was feeling despair about the seeming lack of progress we’re making as a society in combating coronavirus, and it didn’t help that I was feeling particularly cooped up and stir crazy.

I spend a good deal of time online, particularly on Twitter, for work. I’ve realized that it’s not conducive to the perfect mental state right now, but what can you do. Yesterday, I decided that I’d had enough and signed off, which I would highly recommend if you can manage it. Instead, I talked to my parents for a bit, jumped on the exercise bike and got a workout, then tried my hand at cooking gnocchi for dinner for the first time (which turned out really well). Self-care is always important, but it is critical during these tough times. Look out for yourself and give yourself a break.

I share all this not for sympathy — I’m fine and I’ll be fine. I share this for anyone reading who might be having a tough time. You’re not alone. Other people are up and down too. Remember, it’s okay to not be okay. If you’re feeling a bit down or overwhelmed, that’s fine — it’s going to happen to all of us as we progress through this pandemic. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Talk to somebody. Our comments are always open if you need to vent, and if you’d like a more private forum, my DMs on Twitter are open @AaronCLerner. I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to help, but I’m happy to listen and commiserate.

You’re going to get through this. We’re going to get through this. Come on you humans!