Trying Times
by Isabella Dussias
I am writing this article
on April 13 and we are a few weeks into our new normal. There has been a lot of
heartache and pain in our country. Many people have experienced loss of loved
ones from COVID-19. Some of my friends’ parents have lost their jobs, and
everyone’s lifestyles have been altered tremendously. These times have spawned
a lot of feelings of anxiety amongst people of all ages. Everyday tasks such as
going to the grocery store is making many people anxious.
So how do we, as teens,
stay hopeful in these very uncertain times? We simply accept the reality of our
current situation and try to adapt to our temporary normal.
My friends are being very
supportive of each other: reaching out over social media, doing group FaceTime,
watching movies together virtually on Netflix. These small efforts can make us
feel more “normal” even though the reality is that we are living through a
worldwide pandemic. I have also turned to reading books on mindfulness and
meditation. I practice deep breathing, listen to music, stretch and set small
goals for myself each day to take my mind off what’s going on outside.
Even though teens are
sometimes perceived as self-absorbed, we definitely understand the severity of
this pandemic. We are thankful for our parents that provide for us and for our
schools that have adapted their academic plans to continue our learning and
create a sense of normalcy. We are grateful for those who continue to try and
figure out how to fight this virus, and for everyone on the front lines that
are serving our communities in these times of distress.
Stay safe and be well.
Isabella Dussias is a 17-year-old
singer-songwriter/composer from New Jersey. She enjoys writing about issues
that are important to today’s youth, and she believes music is an important
outlet to connect people and share messages through the creativity of lyric and
melody. For more information, please visit IsabellaDussias.com.
