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.

Today we meet Maria, who lives in Rohnert Park, CA about 60 miles north of San Francisco, in the beautiful wine country.

Welcome Maria. What are things like where you live? Since the pandemic, life seemingly came to an abrupt stop. Now things have begun to evolve into something unrecognizable with a new set of life rules and restrictions while desperately trying to will and pray it back to anything that might resemble "normal".  Restaurants are now starting to "open" by observing social distancing and health protocols (masks, outdoor seating). Prior to that it had been food-to-go from some/many restaurants.  And many restaurants and businesses just couldn't last and have had to close. 

Our parks just re-opened where we can walk and hike, still observing social distancing and health protocols. Our Sonoma Coast/Hwy 1 beach parking lots are closed, so you can’t go there unless you ride your bike or walk from your house which is not realistic or feasible.  Hair salons are still closed.  My hair cutter says she’ll be open in two weeks.  I sure hope so! 

You work in education? How has the pandemic affected your work with your students?  I am an Adapted Physical Education Specialist.  I teach gross motor skills (large muscle) to  students ages 3-21 with profound physical, mental, emotional challenges. My job is very physical - I need to assess their abilities, set goals and help them meet those goals- through 1:1 work as well as teaching classes.  All of a sudden I needed to figure out how to teach 50+ individualized gross motor programs through email, over the computer and without equipment, for the parents to implement.  It’s extremely frustrating knowing that my students' needs were not being met- even though everyone trying their very best. 

How has it affected your home life?  My daughter did not get to participate in her college graduation commencement ceremony, or celebrate with family and friends. (Although we will have a big party at some point). We all watched a virtual ceremony on YouTube and face-timed with my daughter who is still away at college.  Her University did do a wonderful job with what they had to work with though!  She also lost two really good jobs opportunities because of the closures - one of them in her chosen field (Psychology).  She's trying to hold out in hopes that things will open again "soon".  She's living 4 hours north of here, in a more rural county- where there are less cases of the pandemic.

What are you doing to keep yourself mentally healthy? To keep somewhat "sane"- I have been occasionally taking very long walks all around my town. Now, with the recent openings, I am getting out to our beautiful parks again to exercise and get fresh air.  The boredom was really setting in with increased eating and drinking.  I've also taken on a refurbishing project in my house (re-doing the stairs).  The thought has NEVER even come close to crossing my mind to do this on my own.. I am not handy in that way nor have I ever had the desire to do something like this myself.  So, it's kind-of funny that I'm even doing this.  I've also been taking long drives up and down the coast enjoying the ocean air and feeling the wind whipping through my hair.  What I desperately miss is working out at my health club.  That, I fear, will be quite a while before that opens again.  I also miss the freedom to socialize with my friends, up close and personal. 

What have you appreciated during this challenging time? I have really learned to appreciate the freedoms, choices, access and lifestyle that I live, good health, and the opportunities to do what I want to do.  The pandemic has taken away many of my "coping distractions" and helped me make peace with it, by facing it (with nothing in between to buffer the noise). 

I think about not taking even simple things for granted. I feel very blessed and grateful.I look forward, each day, to less restrictions (I gotta get my hair done! hahaha) and hopeful news of increased HEALTH world-wide. Oh, and I look forward to embarking on my second Camino next year...  :)

Thank you Maria, for inspiring us today.

Would you like to be featured in our guest interview posts? We want to hear from you! Email me at suzanne@suzannemaggio.com.