We are not meant to live in isolation. What makes us healthy and whole are the connections we form with one another.  With our families. Our friends. Our colleagues and our community…  The thing we need the most to feel healthy has become harder to get.

After more than 30 years in the field of social work, I know one thing to be true. We do not need to be victims to our situation. We have choices to make, each and every day about how we want to live our lives. How we choose to show up for ourselves and each other.

One of the hardest things about this time for me has been the loss of travel, the opportunity to explore. If you know me, you know I love to travel. Give me a passport and a seat on a plane or in a car and I’m on my way, ready for what comes next. I thought it might be fun to travel, however virtually, around the US and yes, even abroad, to visit with people and hear how they’re doing during this difficult time. Over the next few weeks I’d like to bring you a glimpse of what life is like for our friends and neighbors in other places.

Today we travel to Barcelona to meet Elena.

Welcome Elena. What are things like in Barcelona? The Spanish government has established "stages" to control the infections. The country is divided into regions. The areas with lower populations have more permissions to go out or open their business. The more crowded areas have more strict rules. Barcelona has been in the zero stage for the last 2 months. This means you have a specific schedule to go out to exercise for example. Like many places, the main rules are meant to keep us safe and stop the infection. People should maintain a safe distance as much as possible, wear masks and keep good hygiene. 

How have you been affected by the pandemic personally? I like to spend a lot of time in the street, walking or meeting friends in a bar or at home, so i really miss both things during this situation. At this moment, i can go out to shop at the grocery (the main thing you need to live) and i can go out to exercise in the morning and/or at night (there are a schedule depending on your age). Near my house there is a forest where I used to take a walk or to run al least twice a week. But now we must stay at home. Until the infection rates decrease we can’t visit with friends or family even though they might live at the same town. Telephone calls and video chats are the only way to visit with people. 

 Has it affected your work?  During this time, with so many businesses closed, many people are losing their jobs. I work for a pharmaceutical company so I have been working during this period. I work mostly from home, but I have to go to the office a few days a week. The company has established procedures to control the disease at work. Although I am comfortable at home, sometimes living in a small place can be stressful.

 Do you have friends who have been infected by the virus?  No, I’m very lucky. I don’t have anyone close to me who have been infected with the virus.

What has been the hardest thing for you to deal with? I think it has been difficult to handle the sadness everywhere. The number of infections in Spain is very high. People are still very afraid of getting the disease or passing it on to others. I hope that people will continue to maintain the preventive measures and trust the public health system

What have you appreciated during this period? The courage shown by people who fight every day to defeat the disease and the struggle to survive has been amazing. I've also appreciated being with my partner at home. 

What are you doing to keep yourself emotionally healthy during this time?  I exercise everyday or at least take a walk. (We must wear a mask.) Staying organized helps. I make mental lists of all the things I have to do during the week including planning the meals i'm going to cook. I find it helps me to manage the worry and sadness during this difficult time.

Thank you for inspiring us today, Elena.

Let’s broaden the conversation, shall we? Would you like to be featured in our guest interview posts? We want to hear from you! Email me at suzanne@suzannemaggio.com.