The
world is in a battle now, saving lives and fighting disease. I am tearfully
humbled by the sacrifices of the essential workers, from doctor to cashier. I’m
among those isolating, doing our part to flatten the curve as they say but
feeling like I’m not really doing anything, and having a weird survivor guilt
about it. No monetary donation seems to be enough to cover it.
Besides
donations, I am so not caring right now about gold can stay, despite constant headlines about recession in my
feed. I appreciate all the acts of kindness and how people are trying to help
out in whatever way they can. Urban balcony scenes of entire neighborhoods
clapping to thank health care workers, and people making music to cheer others
on are so inspiring. Small things help too, like a professional gave me a free
2-week trial of her online courses because she felt it was something she could
contribute.
I
got some help with the survivor guilt from a podcast, Episode 1024 of So Money
with Farnoosh Torabi. The episode was about managing financial stress in a
relationship, not where I’d expect to hear about guilt, but it touched on guilt
some people feel because their businesses are surviving while others were financially
hurt by the downturn. They had guilty feelings about earning money/ charging
for their services. Sounds like survivor guilt to me. So it's not just me.
TL;DR
I’m feeling short on social currency right now, in this new virtual world where
it feels
like everything. If you see a cute video in your feed of a cute family doing a #stayhome
dance challenge, that’s not me. Here’s where I stand in the media world. I
write this blog for myself, but try to make it helpful like a real blog haha
even though I hid it in Blogger to be anonymous. I mostly use a private Instagram
with 60-70 close friends, WhatsApp and Houseparty. Sometimes I make special Instagram
accounts for a project/side hustle. Apps I don’t use
include Tiktok, Snapchat, Marco Polo, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. My LinkedIn has
30+ followers, and my YouTube channel has one tutorial my
friends helped me film. Before this crisis (and now when I can) I was studying to be a UX Designer and designing my own AR app. I
admire YouTubers who enrich my life with travel videos, skin care tips, product
reviews and helpful DIYs, and part of me really wants to join them, but I feel
too private to put myself out there.
Social
currency is not about numbers though. It’s about meaningful connection.
How
do you feel about it? Would you say social currency is the new gold can stay?
Love
to all and hopes for your safety.
