Tag: coronavirus

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Fabulous living

One Year Since the World Changed

Hi all! Happy Wednesday! A very happy St. Patrick’s Day to those who celebrate! I hope your week is off to a good start. This week, both at work and at home, thereā€™s been a lot of reflection of a year ago and where we were then compared to where we are now.

IĀ remember just over a year ago, I started a new shift at work, and on that night, the NBA shutdown, and Covid-19 was declared a pandemic, we thought it would be a two week period of people staying at home and then it would be back to normal, and boy were we wrongā€¦here we are… one year laterā€¦months of staying at home, countless events cancelled, missed moments, and learning new things every day about a virus. The words: pandemic, Zoom, N-95, testing, Pfizer, Moderna, social distancing and more, all became part of our vocabulary.

Almost a year ago…I went in for a haircut, little did I know it would be my last one for months…also the day, Covid-19 was declared a pandemic.

In the past year, we spent more time with family, picked up new hobbies, shifted our priorities and binge-watched a lot of tv.

We spent a lot of extra time at home and with family in the spring.

We had setbacks but saw great advances in science and medicine. Our daily lives were altered but here we are, all changed but still standing.

Itā€™s hard to imagine how much has changed in a year, in some ways itā€™s almost as if the year didnā€™t happen. But when I look back, Iā€™m glad this past year happened. I grew a lot at work, every day the news was changing, we were constantly shifting gears and working to provide viewers with the latest news and updates.

How it looks to work in news during a pandemic

Although, I couldnā€™t see as many friends in person this year, zoom and facetime became the biggest tools. From bi-weekly calls with best friends to Book Club via facetime, my friends and I made it work to still in touch while being spread a apart.

Seeing friends in the summer involved being socially distant and masked up

The best part was the extra time with family, having my whole family home together for months at a time was such a blessing. We watched movies, worked on house projects, had most meals together and got quality time that wouldnā€™t have happened had there not been a pandemic.Ā 

The pandemic brought lots of extra time outside.

No one could have imagined what this past year would bring. There has been enormous loss and devastation but also unity as a nation. I realized what things were important to me and at the end of the day, Iā€™m so grateful for having a job I love, a loving and supportive family and my health. 

In times of crisis, I think we truly realize whatā€™s important and what matters. 

It was a year of chaos, change and adapting, but here we are, stronger than ever.

Itā€™s been a year of constant change and confusion, but also growth and love.

How much have you changed this last year?

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Fabulous living

2020 Recap

Hi everyone! I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and holiday weekend. Although, I spent more time at work during the past few days, I was very glad I got to spend time with my family before and after work. The holidays may have looked different this year, but I still love everything that comes with them from the prep, the gift giving, the baking, and the traditions.

I donā€™t know about you, but I am ready for 2021, a lot of good things came from this past year, but Iā€™m ready for a fresh start, new beginnings, and new goals. Check back in next week for my goals for 2021, Iā€™m still working on them but Iā€™m excited for what the new year. 

In years past, I would typically have a long post with lots of things I did, places I went and people I met, and many memories made, well, this year turned out very different than I planned, so my recap looks different. 

In the past year, it feels like it just started and at the same time, never happened, almost like a blur. I never thought my first year working in news would look like this, but it truly was a historical time to be reporting. Iā€™ll have more on my first year in news in the coming weeks as well.

Back to looking back on 2020, the year started out by jumping straight into work. I learned a lot during my first weeks and I made some of my closests friends during my first month at work.Ā 

I also bought my first car in January which was very exciting.

My first car!

In March, before the world halted, I was able to see some of my college friends which was fun and great to catch up. One week later, the world paused, as country by country closed their borders, states shut down, businesses closed their doors, students and adults all began working from home. It was definitely a weird time. Work kept me busy. I covered latest developments and cancellations, worked from a second location most of the time, handled daily news conferences and dealt with constant information while so many things got cancelled.Ā 

Seeing friends one week before everything shutdown

The spring brought extra time with family as everyone worked at home, it was nice that even though I would be busy at work, I still got lots of family time, time that I may not have gotten without the pandemic. I got to work on my first week long series about businesses reopening which was so special to highlight businesses that I know and love.Ā It also brought covering the morning after riots happened in our downtown.

The morning after riot coverage

The summer brought lots of time spent outside walking, running, swimming and eating outside to support local restaurants. After more things opened up, I was back in the gym 5 days a week which I loved for my physical and mental health. The summer reminded me to stop and enjoy the little moments in life.

Beach day and a day trip, lots to time spent outside

I got to see a few friends, masked and socially distanced and some family, again all masked and six feet apart. 

Seeing friends socially distant

The fall brought lots of stories about schools going back, including my own siblings. It also brought lots of the historic Election coverage, from visits to Erie and working on Election night, to seeing ow our next President would be. 

Covering President Trump coming to Erie.

The fall also brought the passing of our sweet pup, Hershey Kiss.Ā 

My sweet Hershey Kiss

At work, I got to anchor my first show and I have filled in on the desk since then, a goal I have been working towards for months and I continue to grow and get better. 

Anchoring my first show

The winter brought getting ready for the holidays, making new traditions and memories, and seeing some of the first vaccines distributed here in Erie. 

All my gifts wrapped for Christmas

Throughout 2020, I worked on every single holiday, worked every shift, tried new roles, and got better at my previous roles. 

2020 brought lots of binge-watching, hello Tiger King, 30 Rock, Emily in Paris, Schittā€™s Creek, The Crown, and more! 

It brought more family time, lots of facetimes with friends, making new friends and starting a new relationship. 2020 you werenā€™t so bad after allā€¦.2021, I am ready for you!

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Fabulous living

Thoughts During A Pandemic

 These past few months have been filled with so many unknowns, but in any situation, I always look for the silver linings, so even when the world stopped and got turned upside down, I still wanted to find the good in it. Iā€™ve learned a lot about myself during these past few weeks and months. 

One of the things that have really helped me every day is to simply put things in perspective and maintain a grateful and positive attitude through it all, yes, days were hard and challenging, but taking it one day at a time, helped me so much. Another things that has helped me as been journaling, not just daily but also a separate journal about life and working through a pandemic, I remember what Iā€™m feeling every day, but years from now, will I? Keeping all my notes and feelings in one spot hase been so helpful too!

I was lucky enough to work through the pandemic, although days were filled with uncertainty, I was so fortunate to still be able to work. Another thing I was super grateful for was the fact I was with my family the entire time, I got bonus time with my parents and siblings as they worked and learned from home. I was able to see them before and after work, have quality time to be together that I may not have gotten in the past. Another positive in a dark situation. 

What really stands out to me during the pandemic, was the importance of truly slowing down. During college, especially during my senior year, I felt spread too thin and overwhelmed with commitments, I have gotten into a much better routine since working but this pandemic, truly showed me that you donā€™t have to have a full schedule every single day and this is something I want to adapt in my life more this summer. Yes, more things are reopening and we are entering into a new normal but I want to still continue with slower days when I can. At the beginning of this year, I read, When Less Becomes More by Emily Ley, you can read the review here. One of the biggest takeaways from the book was living a slower and more meaningful life and the joy and beauty in the simple things. I have truly found the beauty in the simple things and the importance of taking it slow. I have also learned to not take things for granted, like just going into a store to browse, you canā€™t do that anymore. I also found you donā€™t have to be busy all the time or doing things all the time to be happy and enjoy life.Ā 

Taking it one day at a time and realizing that sometimes, the simple things in life are better.

What have your learned about yourself through the pandemic? How has your outlook on life changed?

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Fabulous living

When the World Stood Still

Hi everyone, it has been a weekā€¦or weeksā€¦and we still have a while to go. This is not a post about coronavirus, I have been talking about for the last few weeks at work and I still will be talking about in the upcoming weeks. 

Iā€™m a positive person, thatā€™s just who I am. So, rather focus on the chaos, the unknown, or the frustration, letā€™s focus on the good. 

So, you are stuck at home for a few weeks, you are safe, you are putting your health first and you are with your family. 

Letā€™s focus on some things you can do while you are at home, work and taking care of family is the top priority. But, what about the extra time you have?

Here are some suggestions for things to do when you are stuck at home:

  • Catch up on your favorite series (either on tv or binge worthy)
  • Read, we always say we never have enough time to read, well here is some guaranteed time. (Iā€™m still working through the series, The Walk, book review coming soon)
  • Spring Cleaning and Organizing (Why not get a start on your spring cleaning and organizing? You can do some heavy duty cleaning or germs, bring our spring decorations, maybe even start some cleaning out of closets and donate items, you will feel productive and you will see an end result)
  • Catch up with friends (Yes, you may be stuck at home but you can still check in our your friends via phone call, text, or facetime. Check in on those you may need some extra love and support)
  • Finally attempt that hobby you have been putting off, whether itā€™s cooking, baking, sewing, working on a passion project, this is your time to try it. 
  • Lastly, donā€™t let this time of unrest put you on hold from your life. Keep your routines in place, get a home work out in, get some fresh air, keep up with your chores or to do list, keep life as normal as possible.

We are going through a different time, itā€™s challenging and uneasy, but donā€™t let that stop you from living a full and successful life. I challenge you in the coming weeks to find good one thing that going on in your life every day, no matter how big or small. Find the good in every day. 

Stay safe and healthy!