In seemingly the blink of an eye, the world collectively lost its sense of security - financially, mentally and emotionally. However, some of these problems stem to people of all age groups as they struggle to adjust to their own unique set of losses.
Middle school students are missing school plays, field trips and club events as they enjoy their last years of being a kid before transitioning to the scary world of high school.
High school seniors will miss their prom, graduations and all of the "lasts" that they have worked so hard for and dreamed about for so long.
All of these irreplaceable memories are a way to freeze a moment in time that you can never get back.
Others who are not on the cusp of a major life milestone simply miss their friends, their old routines, their natural way of life. They long for their since canceled plans, vacations or merely Friday night dinner and drinks.
Even before all of the chaos that has since plagued the world, it's important to remember that life was never entirely stable to begin with. Life changes, life is unpredictable, life never follows a straight and perfect path. There are people who have had to deal with a lot less than what the pandemic is currently affording them and others who could have never fathomed not always having everything they needed.
Sometimes, the best way to learn how to appreciate something is in its absence.
Quarantine can be extremely lonely for those who are used to always being around people or those with depression or anxiety. But think of all the texts you've received asking how are you are or just checking in. Think of all the video chat requests and zoom calls and Netflix party dates.
It's wonderful to know that you have people who always care, people to lean on in times of tragedy, people who still think of you even as the world is falling apart around them.
Being locked in your house indefinitely might seem like torture, but for some, especially essential workers, going out with friends was always more of a reward than a requirement. Even in the pre-virus world, some of these workers would often have to work six days a week or 12 plus hour shifts, seeing friends became a rarity.
Being holed up at home for a few months, with access to technology that still allows you to communicate with others, really isn't all that bad. (And you're helping to save the world while doing it.)
Being home, however, also means you're probably spending a lot more time with your family than you had previously, and while that may be difficult for some, think of it as a way to bond and reconnect with people you have naturally drifted away from.
Pull out those old board games you had as a kid, and look through old pictures. Take this time to try and relive those days when all your friends lived on your block, popularity wasn't a thing and you were happy to spend time with anyone you could.
More than anything, this quarantine has taught us that the world is rapidly changing, and nothing, whether it be safety, financial security, health, friendships or moments are for sure.
We're not losing time, we're shaping a new perspective on the times to come.
Take this time to truly evaluate what you want in life. Keep those that you truly care about close, and use this time to reach out to those who you may not have spoken to in a while. You never know how a simple message can just change someone's day.
Don't take anything for granted, all the life you've lived thus far and have left to live.
Think of the dinners, of the movies, of the late nights just chilling in your best friend's basement. Think of those drunken 2 a.m. college nights, of those late night library study sessions or that time you spent crying over that guy that didn't really like you back.
All of it, all of it matters. All of it shapes you.
Where would you be right now without any of that, and how many countless memories do you have left to create?
You aren't even a fraction of the person you are going to become. You have so much more living to do. Although it may feel devastating to be missing out on graduations, proms and birthdays, these chapters aren't over, they're just being rewritten.
You're becoming part of history, challenging and changing past perspectives on how the world has operated and will do so moving forward.
When this is all over, you will emerge a stronger, more capable and more thoughtful person. You will have survived, and that in itself will be something worth celebrating.
