As I begin to write my second attempt at this blog post, I will let you know this is a completely different tone than the first one. I was writing my first post out of anger and thank goodness my mom talked me out of it. Did I have COVID? Yes, I did. Did I follow protocol and get released by the health department? Another yes, but there is so much more to COVID than the virus itself and that is what I will be talking about today.

COVID-19 has been controlling my life for the past 6 months. Because of this pandemic, internship plans have changed, I moved home for the summer, I didn’t get to see my friends, and my life is completely different than it probably would be if the virus was not a real thing. But alas, the virus is alive and definitely still infecting people, and that is just how life is.

I’m going to be honest, COVID sucks. Not just because I was sick, because any illness isn’t fun, but because it makes your life and your environment do a complete 180. I cried more over FaceTime in the past few weeks than I had in the past month probably. COVID had already messed up my life so much and now it was screwing up the beginning of my junior year.

It was the first Friday of classes when I got my results that I tested positive and boy did my life completely change. I was about to be locked in my room for 10 days straight only leaving to take one step to the bathroom, with a mask on of course. My roommates were pissed, and honestly they had all right to be. That was for sure not the reaction I wanted, but it is the one I got. And you know what, I was pissed back, I was ready to move out by the end of the 10 days. I was so upset with how upset they were, but my parents kept reminding me that I am a Child of God and I need to treat others with love and respect even when you don’t get that in return. And let me tell you, that was the last thing I wanted to do, if the people around me got to be angry, why wasn’t I allowed to be?

But, my parents’ words kept echoing through my mind, take the high road and love like Jesus. If it wasn’t for those repetitive words of my parents and the Holy Spirit nudging me to do what I knew was right, I think I’d be in a different spot than I am now. We are called to LOVE EVEN WHEN IT IS HARD, so that is exactly what I plan to do.

Let’s love deeper, take time and put yourself in other’s shoes. Apologize even when you don’t want to. Give others grace and patience, learn to stand your ground in a firm but loving way. I know I’m still working on the latter. But also give yourself grace because life isn’t easy. Cry, scream, pray, run. Do whatever you need to do to get your energy and emotions out, but please for the love of everything in this world, don’t take it out on others. This will only cause strained relationships, that I can attest firsthand. And last but not least, treat others how you want to be treated because when you treat people like shit, you aren’t any better than how you make them feel.

So, to the girl who had COVID, I know that this sucks. I’ve been there and I know that the people in your life aren’t always going to support you through it but find the people who do. Find the people who bring you Chick-Fil-A and wave at you through a window. Find the people who download heads up and FaceTime you just to make you smile after a long day of doing online school while having COVID. Find the people who remind you that love is more important than revenge, that taking the high road is the only road to take. Don’t stoop down to people’s level when they are rude, educate people on COVID since you know firsthand what it’s all about. And finally, wear your mask, social distance, wash your hands, and love like Jesus.