If these questions can help you in creating a journal of this life-changing pandemic, feel free to use them.
Living through COVID-19
Coronavirus 2020
(updated July 2020)
2020 started off with an unforeseen tragedy -- COVID-19 aka Coronavirus
We, everyone who is
alive in 2020, are living through a historical event that has not been seen for
many, many years; decades in fact. This
is a great opportunity to put our thoughts and feelings down on paper for our
descendents to read what we went through.
I am in the process
of making Memory Journals, Thoughts and Feelings, for friends and family as
well as a Junk Journal for myself. Along
with the journals, I have put together a list of questions and ideas that may
start you thinking about what you, your family and friends and co-workers have
been going through during the pandemic.
If I have left something out, please send me a message with your ideas/thoughts
and I will share the ones I receive in
another post. The following
ideas/questions are not in any particular order. I wrote them down as I thought of them,
although I have tried to group some of them.
Not every thought/question will apply to everyone, they are here to
engage your thoughts.
Items marked with
"*" are new.
What: Coronavirus Pandemic 2020 aka COVID-19
When: January 2020 through ? Did it really start in January 2020 or did it
start earlier than anyone thought?
Cause of the virus:
Cure/Vaccine found?
*When you heard about
the virus/pandemic, what were your thoughts?
How did you feel at
the start of the virus?
Were you concerned?
Actions you took to
keep from getting the virus?
When did you start
becoming concerned?
What happened in the
area where you live? What were your thoughts and feelings?
When did you become
aware this was worse than the flu?
What actions were
taken by the U.S. government? State government? Local government? What were
your thoughts and feelings?
*When President Trump
shut down travel from foreign countries, what did you think? How did you feel? Where were you?
How were you
affected?
Were you able to keep
working (was your job essential)?
Were you laid off?
Were you able to
receive unemployment?
Were you able to get
financial relief/help?
How did the
shelter-in-place affect you?
Physically? Mentally?
How did it affect
family members? Loved ones? Friends? Co-workers?
What did you do to
keep your spirits up? The spirits of your family? your friends?
What plans were
placed on hold? canceled?
How did the virus
change your life?
Did you or a loved
one come down with the virus?
What were the
symptoms/treatments?
Were you able to go
to the grocery store, pharmacy, drug store, etc., for necessities?
*When were you able
to go out freely? Were the
restrictions/conditions?
What would you
suggest/recommend to future generations to "weather" a pandemic?
What would you have
done differently? Why?
What do you think
your local, state or federal government should have done differently? Why?
What activities/games
did you play?
Did you complete
activities off your "honey-do list"?
Who did you keep in
contact with?
What were your
concerns?
Were you scared?
How did you cope with
social distancing?
What did you think
about the TP shortage? the hoarding?
What were/are your
feelings when the pandemic was over?
*Is it over? Did a "second wave" occur?
*When you were able
to go out freely, when did it happen?
What happened? What did you
experience? What did others do?
*Did your state open
up for Memorial Day? 4th of July? What happened? Did everyone adhere to the CDC guidelines? If not, what happened?
*How many stages did
your state go through when it reopened?
*Were your favorite
stores? Restaurants? Bars? Beauty/barber shops reopened?
*Was social
distancing required? Were masks required? If not at first, were they mandatory
later?
*Were essential
supplies easier to find?
*Did your town/state
become a "hot spot"? If so,
what happened? Were any special places closed because of the virus? What? When? Did they reopen at the same pace
as your city/state? Did they revert back
to an early stage of the reopening?
*If/when businesses
reopened, did everyone comply with the CDC guidelines? If not, what did people
do? What were the consequences for their actions?
*When did you start
doing "normal" things? Going
out to eat? Going to family functions? Going to the movies? Going out to a bar
or nightclub? Go swimming? Do something
else?
*Did your local/state
government shut businesses down a second time?
Which businesses? Why? How did you feel about the re-closures?
*If you live in a
gated community with a clubhouse, were activities discontinued? When? Why? Did they reopen? If so, were there restrictions?
*Did tourist areas in
your area open? Were they later
reclosed?
*Did you travel
outside your area? Did you have any trouble if you did? Where did you go? When did you go? Were
things different from how they were when you were there before? How? Were there restrictions? Special needs?
*If you had a
home-based business, like being a Tupperware representative, a jewelry
representative or a Stampin'Up! Demonstrator, were you able to keep holding
meetings, parties or classes? If not,
how did you reach out to your customers?
Did you hold on-line classes? Do YouTube videos? Or, what? How did your customers react? Did you start holding face-to-face
meetings/classes again? When? How did you prepare for them? How were they accepted by your customers?
*Did anything happen
during the reopening of the country that caused you concern? What? When? What were the consequences?
*When did you become
aware of the Black Lives Matters movement?
What did you think of the riots? Defacing/tearing down of national
monuments? Taking over cities? Defunding
the police?
*Do you think
local/state governments took the right actions?
Why? Why not? What could/should
they have done? Did the federal
government take action? Why? What
actions were taken? What do you think should be done to stop the riots,
killings, defunding the police, disbanding police forces, defacing/tearing down
national monuments?
*Do you think the
United States will come out of this chaotic time stronger? How do you feel about what is happening
within the United States? What do you feel should be done?
*What are your
plans? When do you feel the pandemic
will be over? Do you fear a second wave?
How do you feel about others throughout the country not complying with the CDC
recommendations?
*Have you reached out
to your religious beliefs to help you through this time? Has it helped?
