We Are Not All in The Same Boat

I saw this on social media a couple of days ago and it’s stayed with me. There’s no known author that I can find.

I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it’s not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked, and mine might not be.

Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflections, of re-connection, easy in flip-flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial and family crisis.

For some that live alone, they’re facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest, and time with their mother, father, sons and daughters.

With the $600 (US) weekly increase in unemployment, some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working.

Others are working more hours for less money, due to pay cuts or loss in commissioned sales.

Some families of four just received $3400 from the stimulus package, while other families of four saw $0.

Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter, while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk, and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don’t qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break quarantine.

Some are at home spending two to three hours a day, helping their child with online schooling, while others are doing the same on top of a 10–12 hour work day.

Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it, and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it.

Others don’t believe this is a big deal.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles this year.

Others say the worst is yet to come.

We are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all on different ships during this storm, experiencing a very different journey. — Unknown Author

People are so busy telling other people how they should experience this pandemic, I don’t believe they are stopping to think, not everyone is in the same boat.

I’ve seen countless posts and articles online, degrading those who don’t come out of this with some new skill, those who don’t have their lives completely organized, or those who aren’t the healthiest they’ve ever been.

We are not all in the same boat.

I have friends who are enduring this quarantine alone. Whose only in person social interaction with others who are also socially distancing at the grocery story, once a week.

Some of those people are lonely. And though they understand the storm we’re all facing and will continue to do what needs doing to get our world back on track, they count the days until they can be with their friends and family again.

It thrills some of those people to have all this free time to themselves. They’re basking in the quiet, taking time to reflect, work, and take care of themselves.

There’s nothing wrong with either group of people.

Yet, the social media warriors of the day tell us the first group is doing it wrong.

I’m one of those who gets to ride out this pandemic with my family. I also work exclusively from home. I’ve heard I should be handling this better than anyone else, it’s what I’m used to after all.

Wrong.

My child has never gone to daycare or any kind of traditional childcare. But he visited his Mimi for overnights at least twice a week. We went to the park. As he succinctly puts it, we went bye-bye.

We don’t go bye-bye any longer.

Sure, we play in our yard when the weather permits. We have FaceTime for those we can’t be with.

But he’s three, and this is completely new for him. Hell, I’m 42 and it’s completely new for me.

As an introvert, I thought I would handle this better.

Our day-to-day has subtly changed, and it’s enough to throw everything out of whack.

Before you share that meme or post, telling people what they should or should not be accomplishing during this time of social distancing, take a moment and think.

We are not all in the same boat.

But we are in the same storm, and with the support and understanding of our fellow human, we can all come through the other side a little kinder, a little gentler, a little more human.