Sunday, July 12, 2020

Memory Journal - Living through COVID-19

A few weeks ago I was making Memory Journals for family and friends to jot down their thoughts and feelings about the pandemic.  While making these journals, I developed a list of thought provoking ideas and questions.  I updated the list today to include the states re-opening, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and, unfortunately, the riots.

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?