While social distancing, it can be difficult not to feel incredibly alone… which is why we created The Check In, a weekly segment where you can share your perspective and tell your neighbors how you’re feeling and what you’re going through.
Next week, we’re looking for stories about something that made you laugh, despite everything. We’re looking for examples that range from the absurd to the mundane — as long as you think it’s funny. Send a voice memo with your name to tori_bedford@wgbh.org with “THE CHECK IN” in the subject line.
This week, we took a lesson from the late Mr. Fred Rogers, who reminded us to “always look for the helpers” in times of crisis, take time to sit with our feelings and to not compare our experiences to anyone else’s.
Some helpers who reached out include:
Dr. Brian Yun, an emergency room doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. Yun is a father of two children, ages seven and three. He said when he gets home, he tries to switch gears.
“I concentrate on them and try to create a safe environment for them at home,” Yun said. “Having just left an environment where we're preparing for the worst and planning for the worst, it's such a contrast and it doesn't really hit you until you're lying in bed. And that may be the first moment where you're just like, wow, what just happened?”
Denise Hajjar, a Boston-based fashion designer who walked into her local fabric shop in Dorchester only to discover a fleet of volunteers there, ready to make masks to distribute to the world.
“It was a moment that I won’t ever forget. And I know I won’t ever see these ladies again, but for that small moment we were all bonded together,” Hajjar said. “We are a strong community, we are a united community that wants to help and give back and do what we can.”
Kate Glynn, a Northampton resident and volunteer with her local food pantry, said she’s been thinking a lot about what “frontline” worker means.
“I was thinking about all of the frontline folks in the hospitals, but also I am part of the nonprofit community out here,” Glynn said, “and we learned that the Northampton Survival Center, which is the local food pantry, has to close because too many of their staff are sick.”
Anna Leslie, the director of the Allston Brighton Health Collaborative, reached out to talk about an initiative they just launched with Commonwheels, a local volunteer bicycle collective, to deliver meals to vulnerable people, including the elderly, in their community. They have inspired similar initiatives in Cambridge and Somerville, and are looking for more volunteers.
Finally, we ended on a note from Dr. Yun, who wanted to remind listeners that you don’t have to do everything to be helpful — you can be a superhero just by staying home and watching Netflix.
“What does victory look like Victory in this type of scenario of silence,” Yun said. "It's not having the health care system overwhelmed. And so while all these strategies may frustrate us or even cause cabin fever, it really is important.”
If you have a story to share, please email a voice memo to tori_bedford@wgbh.org.
