In this story, you’ll learn the following:
- Ana was helping others during the COVID-19 pandemic while struggling herself.
- She was in talk therapy, and she was open about her feelings.
- Ana changed things in her life. Instead of doomscrolling, she intensified her journaling daily.
- She learned about empowerment through self-love and taking care of her mental health.
COVID-19 Pandemic Personal Impact
With lockdowns blanketing our TVs and emptying our streets, Ann thought she was coping very well by 2020. She smiled in video calls, helped her younger brother with schoolwork, and attended online lessons.
Every night she would lie awake scrolling through scary headlines and texts about an upsurge in incidents. These experiences would become part of the story behind Pins and Bows of Ann.
Weeks turned into months. The birthdays were celebrated with webcams. The graduation ceremonies were live-aired. Family gatherings were put on hold indefinitely. Simple things Ana missed were sitting next to her grandparents, studying in the library, and having lunch with friends.
Self-Compassion and Resilience
She first blamed herself for being exhausted. Ana thought, “They’re worse off than I am.” She ignored the tightness in her chest and the growing anxiety and decided to let it go. Despite this, Ana worked more because she felt productivity would be the answer.
One day, while she was giving an important presentation, her internet connection failed. She blushed and began to cry.
Later, her teacher sent her a note that read:
“Be kind to yourself. This season has been tough on everyone.”
She remembered what her teacher said.
Mental Health Self-Care Practices
Ana began to take advantage of online mental health classes at her school. She found that throughout the pandemic, people often faced stress, loneliness, bereavement, and uncertainty. She learned that liking herself is not the same thing as being selfish.
Ann learned that it was about asking for help and setting boundaries. She learned to take breaks when needed and to be kind to herself. It is just as she was with others.
Ana was beginning to change her routine. She kept a journal, resisted the urge to doomscroll, took walks in the morning sun, and called friends on a regular basis. Ana understood there were still hard days; she no longer blamed herself for having problems.
Healing and Strength in Crisis Reflection
She came to realize that healing is an everyday process of patience, connectedness, reflection, and gratitude.
Time had moved on to 2023. The world opened up again, and Ana learned a big lesson. Strength in times of crisis was not about pretending that nothing was wrong.
Ann reminded herself that some of the examples of strength included:
- Acknowledging one’s humanity,
- Taking care of one’s mental health, and
- Choosing self-love whenever life appeared uncertain and overwhelming.
DISCLAIMER
Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or individuals, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
This writing is for educational purposes and encourages discussions and debate. It aims to provoke critical thinking in several domains, including philosophical psychology and ethics. It is concerned with perception, judgment, and decision-making. Any mention is for debate purposes, not an accusation of wrongdoing.
The information is inconclusive. Readers are cautioned to distinguish fact from interpretation, to hold themselves accountable to proper procedure and permitted findings, and to be responsible in their research and discussion. The discussion around learning’s true value can be deeply personal, so take what resonates and explore further. As you do so, you may form your own view about learning’s true value.
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