Color My World

I have had enough. After 20 months of infectious disease, strict lockdowns and countless regulations, I can hardly breathe, mask or not. Everywhere we go and everything we do, it’s the only topic being discussed and it hurts to live it every day. There is literally no escape from the madness that has damaged us. We will never be the same.

This pandemic took more from us than loss of life. It took our ability to earn a living, attend school, think clearly and feel safe. It took our relationships, entertainment and celebrations. It changed every aspect of what we do and how we see the world. Sadly, one of the significant casualties of our new existence is that difference of opinion is no longer tolerated. People are now self-segregating based on their socio-political ideology and their medical status. Despite the case numbers declining, the level of fear and blame remain high, resulting in more mandates, not fewer. When will it end?

I clearly remember where I was back on March 13, 2020 ­– Friday the 13th. It was the day we were told that Glendale schools would take an extended spring break because no one knew what was going to happen with the new virus. I had a doctor’s appointment that day and I didn’t even wear a mask. My doctor teased that everyone’s reaction to the recently named coronavirus, COVID-19, could be compared to a social experiment, sure to pit us all against each other. She was so right. It really was the beginning of what would become a season of hoarding, shaming, isolation and rules – lots of ever-changing rules. The virus would ultimately take a huge toll on our lives and mental health regardless of whether we actually got sick. Kids and seniors would suffer the most with the absence of anything social, but we all were deeply impacted. We also had no idea during that time of the catch phrases that would become part of our everyday language: “elbow bump” or “social distancing” and, my personal favorite, “in these challenging times…” Everything changed so quickly yet lasted so long.

In response to the lockdowns that followed, I turned to nature for normalcy since the rest of our existence was so oppressive and sad. I wanted to cry most days and I really missed hugs. And I wasn’t alone. So many of us took to the streets and trails, looking for a feeling of “normal.” During my walks, I could almost imagine my old life before the pandemic. I was free to feel the air on my face, smell the earthy smells around me and see all the colors of the great outdoors. That’s the part I liked the most, the vibrant blues and whites of the sky followed by oranges and purples as the day grew long. I saw foliage in every shade of green and brown and flora in variations of pink and yellow. The colors filled my soul and helped me forget reality … for a little while.

I recently threw caution to the wind and traveled to the Pacific Northwest to visit family. That alone helped me feel like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. But the icing on the cake was the view that greeted me from the airplane before arrival. I looked down from the sky at fall colors like I have never seen before, the green forests peppered with splashes of every hue from amber to burgundy. Up close at street level, the deep color of the trees thrilled me. I was in awe of the beauty of nature, and it grounded me.

We have been through a lot but it’s time to get back to work, mend our broken relationships and rebuild our lives. Let the healing power of nature’s colors help you through “these challenging times.”