How We Keep Busy During COVID
Our staff, sponsors, and board wrote in to tell us how they are dealing with COVID-19 and social distancing. For me, that means renewing new passions, finding new hobbies, and cherishing now-rarer moments with families!
How are you dealing with COVID? Write in to tell us, send us an email, or comment below!
“Over the past month, especially for the week and a half of bad weather in St. Louis, it became clear to me that I needed a new hobby. Sewing is something I used to do through middle and high school with my mom and something I’ve enjoyed relearning. Just last week, I launched an Etsy shop called Creature Costume in order to fill a great need in society: costumes for bearded dragons! My own dragon has loved being a model for our first costume, a taco — and by love I mean he tolerates it because he’s a good and patient boy. It has brought a lot of fun and creativity into the house for my partner (who has now been taught to sew and is enjoying helping out!) and I. It’s a great thing to do at the end of the day of work and school all on the computer.”
—Morgan, Administrative Assistant for Mitrata
Morgan’s bearded dragon, Maloo, all dressed up!
“The Covid Virus has brought to our attention to need to stay healthy, the need to wear our masks in public. But what to do when stuck at home? How does one stay mentally healthy? I love to quilt, which means make blankets for kids and adults. I love the colors and fabric designs and the lovely feel of good cotton and the variety in quilts, from modern to traditional, peaceful or indicative of the holidays.”
— Margaret, Sponsor
Two of Margaret’s quilts
Margaret and a finished quilt!
“As difficult and challenging as this pandemic has been and continues to be, Sheryl and I have managed to stay “relatively” sane (this of course, assumes we started with a reasonably healthy dose). We rededicated ourselves to more disciplined exercise routines (I walked between 8-10 miles most days) and hosted many family Zoom and Facetime calls (some to celebrate milestone birthdays and some for no reason except for everyone to “see” each other). I continued to mentor high school students on the college application process and guided a number of them through interviewing skills workshops. I also found uplifting quotations regarding: persistence, family, and the July 4th holiday which I sent to my family to keep things in perspective and help them navigate the current challenges.”
—Rick, Board Vice President and Sponsor
Rick and his wife Sheryl at their son’s wedding in Dallas last fall — socially distanced, of course