The Emotional Disconnect - A Lost Sense of Belonging

Spring 2020 was when everything interrupted abruptly and the disconnect intensified. The world suddenly came to halt, thanks to the coronavirus that shut down business, closed schools and colleges and isolated everyone, especially the immunocompromised. The physical disconnection was noticeable, but the emotional disconnection was more subtle.  Some became wrapped up in their own little worlds during the pandemic ; they stopped listening; they stopped caring. 

The fear of the unknown increased. There were rumors of shortages and people hoarded as they stocked up on the essentials. Those who became infected the coronavirus were shunned. People were told to stay 6 feet away from each other. Misinformation ran rapid on social media. 

Loneliness quickly became another pandemic we dealt with as church services, concerts, sporting events, dining out, working out, and such came to an abrupt halt. Some stores stayed open, but with limited hours and limited capacity. No visitors were allowed inside at care centers and hospitals. People stopped socializing in person and instead used technology to connect. 

People experienced a loss of faith in humanity as Asians were discriminated because of where the coronavirus originated, and people some were labeled sheeples because they were obedient to public policy. The lack of trust increased as public officials were harassed because of the mandates imposed by the pandemic and the outcome of election. More hurt and disconnect happened as protests broke out in cities across America and the nation’s capital. 

Will the pandemic of loneliness become a permanent or will it become a thing of the past? As the country and world continue to reopen, will we continue to fall into our fears and stay disconnected? Or will we as humans reach out and reconnect with others? Will we draw circles to include others?