I don’t think it is selfish to be sad about the personal losses that come with this lockdown.

It is selfish to be sad about *only* those personal losses.

It is entirely human to be sad about things missed while also knowing it’s right to miss them.

1/

People are missing once-in-a-lifetime events, traditions, times with family and friends.

Those are losses. They’re real and losing them sucks.

No one should feel guilty for holding two thoughts at once.

“It hurts to miss _____ but we’re doing the right thing.”

2/

I have an annual tradition in August. A trip with friends. This would have been our 25th year. It has endured changes in each of our lives. It has endured the passing of three of my friends.

It’s a touchstone of sorts for me. It is an immovable post. Or was.

3/

I will be sad to miss it.

That in no way diminishes my understanding of how much greater others’ losses are.

It doesn’t diminish my understanding that what we’re doing is right and important.

4/

I know most of us have things of personal importance we’re missing.

Graduations, family events, kids’ last games.

And I think it’s entirely human and okay to hold a little room in your thoughts to miss them.

Feel no guilt about being human. We all are.

5/5

So, with all of this said, what are you sad to be missing?

We might as well get it all out there - with an implied standard disclaimer: we know there are more important things and we know it’s right to miss them.