You are not alone. I feel it too. The fear. The panic. The uncertainty. The worry you no longer have control over. The inability to take your mind off the news update every day. The wonder about when we will have normalcy again. The bad news that gets added to the already overflowing pile just when you think things are going to get better.

As more people are getting tested, it’s evident that many people are infected and there’s no assurance that lockdowns would be lifted soon. In Nigeria, Lagos has the total number of cases and I bet most people in Lagos are wishing they lived somewhere else right now.

I’ve been coping; working from home, reading, writing, exercising, cooking, watching series and movies. Doing things that make me happy. But the fact that I can’t see the end is totally mind-bugging.

So, you are not alone. We all have our down moments. When we wonder how people that live alone are coping. When we feel sad for people who have lost loved ones who they couldn’t even be with at the hospital. When we remember the plans we made and what we would be doing right now if coronavirus never came our way. When we just want to go outside or hang out with our friends.

You wish you could get your life back? well, I wish that too.

There will be an end. There definitely has to be an end. So meantime, keep doing everything you’ve been doing to stay safe. Stay at home and only go out when it’s absolutely necessary. When you do go out, wear a mask. Wash your hands longer than 20 seconds as often as possible. Take vitamin C and immune-boosting herbs. Pray. Take advantage of technology to keep in touch with your friends and family.

You are not alone. We will get through this together.

Mariam Shittu

feel free to share your feelings below 👇🏼