We get through this together

Dear community, 

I’m grateful for you. As we’re facing hard truths about our care crisis, we’re here together, and I appreciate that. I’ll keep saying it: connection is medicine. I love reading your responses to my email and seeing what’s on the top of your minds. That connection has kept me hopeful, and I care about you and what you’re experiencing.  

Send me an email about getting more plugged into our work, or even an article for our News Digest at any time. 

I want you to know that whatever you’re going through right now – you’re not alone. This is a tough moment, and so many of us are struggling to make ends meet, to be present in our lives and with our loved ones, and to find the energy we need to get through our days. I literally told my supervisor last week that if I found the will to work, it’d be a successful week. I know I’m not alone in this. I see it all over social media, in my family, and in my community: we’re all in a slump.  

This week I caught up with my sister, Rose (18) and brother, Leland (7) while they played Minecraft, to talk about COVID, care, and how they’re feeling in this moment. I talked to my sister, Pa (23), too.  

I asked them about how they’re feeling, what’s making them happy and sad right now, and what they miss most in this moment. Throughout the interview, one theme kept coming back: personal connection. Leland misses his cousins. Rose misses connecting with her instructors, and Pa can’t wait until she’s able to see Leland and our mom more regularly. We‘re all craving connection and care. 

Here’s the interview: 

Who are you? 

• Rose: I’m a freshman in college, a sister, and I have a job but it’s not as steady as I want it to be.  
• Leland: I am a first-grade student. 
• Pa: I am 23. I work as a veterinary receptionist. Under COVID, I’m considered an essential worker, so I’ve been working through the pandemic.  

How are you? 

• Rose: I am OK. I could be better. 
• Leland: Good.  
• Pa: I have been OK. My work is doing the best it can to support everyone during the pandemic. Our work has been split into teams that work long days. It’s been very exhausting.  

What are your days usually like?  

• Rose: Pretty inconsistent because I have no motivation for anything. I sit and ponder about my homework and think about money I don’t have. 
• Leland: Stressful and happy.  
• Pa: I have off days and on days. When I am working, I wake up at 6:30 a.m. I drive to work and am at the clinic for 10-12 hours a day. I answer phone calls, emails, and questions about pets. I set up appointments and support them. On my off days, I stay in bed until 10 a.m., take care of my pets, and try to catch up on my life: grocery shopping, food prep, and getting ready for the next session of work.  

What‘s the best thing right now?  

• Rose: Quality time with family and friends. 
• Leland: When I am done with school. 
• Pa: I have done a lot of online shopping. 

What‘s the worst thing right now?  

• Rose: I have zero motivation. I feel like the connections with teachers aren’t as sincere so it’s hard to explain why I’m not doing well.  
• Leland: When I take showers, my feet are itchy.  
• Pa: The pandemic. It has changed everyone’s lives in immense and intense ways. I work longer days and I can’t see my family as much.  
  _{Note: I informed my mother about Leland’s itchy feet.} 
  

What do you miss the most? 

• Rose: In person interactions. Education is extremely stressful without it.  
• Leland: My teachers. I like learning with them. 
• Pa: I miss people-watching. My partner and I would routinely go to the Mall of America to grab ice cream and people-watch. It’s not something we even consider doing now.  

What are you looking forward to once we get through COVID?  

• Rose: Going out and eating food. 
• Leland: Playing and having a four-day sleepover with my cousins and family.  
• Pa: Seeing coworkers I haven’t seen. Being able to regularly visit Mom and Leland again.  

What do you want people to know? 

• Rose: I want them to understand and consider how hard it is for students of all ages right now. COVID is hard on us.  
• Leland: Stop working and play with me.  
• Pa: Call your veterinary office as soon as you think something is wrong with your pet. We’re booking three to four weeks out.  

I resonate so hard with my siblings. The impact of almost a year (a year!) in COVID has been grueling on our physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual energies. 

I’ve only got one ask for you this week and it’s this: fill out our COVID survey. We want to hear about how you’re doing, what you and your loved ones need, and how we can show up for you and your community. Your responses help us chart out our work for the new year. Feel free to share the survey with your loved ones. 

Here’s the link again. 

Thanks so much for being a part of our people-centered movement and filling out the survey. The path ahead won’t always be sweet or easy, but I know this: we figure it out together. Thanks for sticking with me, and with TakeAction Minnesota, in building a more joyful future for all of us. 

Take care, 

LyLy