Item

Isolation, in Nature, Has its Tremendous Benefits

Title (Dublin Core)

Isolation, in Nature, Has its Tremendous Benefits

Description (Dublin Core)

It is hard to imagine that just a couple of months before this photo was taken, several life-altering events occurred in my life, and indeed, in the lives of millions worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as early as December 2019, initial reports circulated about a "mysterious Coronavirus-related Pneumonia" apparently originating from the province in Wuhan, China. By January 31, 2020, the WHO issued a global health emergency urging the international community to take all necessary precautions to slow the virus's spread and minimize human-to-human contact.

Mandatory mask-wearing, obsessive handwashing, and social distancing became customary parts of daily life for virtually everyone. Yet, despite strict health guidelines from the Center for Disease and Control (CDC) intended to keep communities safe, I argue that social distancing has also exacerbated instances of loneliness and depression. Families who count on holiday visits from extended family now contemplate rescheduling, modifying, or altogether canceling holiday gatherings. I personally experienced some setbacks and hardships throughout the year, so the idea of not seeing my family did not sit well with me. Fortunately, my better judgment prevailed, and I abided by CDC travel recommendations.

During the 2020 holiday season, I found my outlet and my connection to the land. Yes, technically, traveling is somewhat tricky at the moment. However, home mandates -in my opinion- should not discourage you from sitting outside, breathing good air, and feeling the warmth of the sun. For me, social isolation became about packing a day bag and trekking into the woods-completely alone. And so, I decided to explore Camp Verde on Thanksgiving. This is what I learned: It shouldn't take a holiday as the reason for you to call your loved ones more often or appreciate the people you interact with daily. Humans are social creatures. We thrive on human interaction. So when we are deprived, I firmly believe we should seek nature as our companion. Please do yourself a favor and take advantage of this time to spend more time outside. Explore your surroundings and have a great time throughout the process.

-Solidarity

Date (Dublin Core)

November 25, 0020

Creator (Dublin Core)

Daniel Lopez

Contributor (Dublin Core)

Daniel Lopez

Event Identifier (Dublin Core)

HST494

Partner (Dublin Core)

Arizona State University

Type (Dublin Core)

Photograph

Controlled Vocabulary (Dublin Core)

English Travel
English Social Distance
English Emotion
English Parks
English Recreation & Leisure

Curator's Tags (Omeka Classic)

Camp Verde
outdoor
national park
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving 202
woods
social isolation

Contributor's Tags (a true folksonomy) (Friend of a Friend)

pandemic prompt
holidays

Collection (Dublin Core)

Environment

Linked Data (Dublin Core)

Pandemic Prompts

Date Submitted (Dublin Core)

01/16/2021

Date Modified (Dublin Core)

01/27/2021
02/8/2021
07/31/2021

Date Created (Dublin Core)

11/25/2020

Item sets

Covid 19
Arizona State University

This item was submitted on January 16, 2021 by Daniel Lopez using the form “Share Your Story” on the site “A Journal of the Plague Year”: https://covid-19archive.org/s/archive

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