March 10, 2020: the day that changed our lives

Have you ever had to tell a room (and as if it couldn't get any worse, a virtual room) full of people that they no longer had a job?

It was no one's fault, but it was no less fucked up.

Last year, on this very day, March 10, the first case of the novel Coronavirus hit Jamaica. I had been following the news, so it was no surprise. Earlier in February, I had even joked with my husband that if he went to Trinidad carnival, he should be prepared to rent a hotel for 14 days before coming home. He didn't end up going, not because of the virus, but because of work. (I guess the universe grants the wishes of nagging wives).

By March 18, Jamaica was on high alert and shortly after, the government ordered all attractions closed.

WTF was this virus that was locking down countries and killing people?

By this time, the news was filled with gruesome footage from Italy: body bags everywhere, overcrowded hospitals, overwhelmed doctors and front-line workers.

The mandated lock down for 2 weeks in the first instance was greeted by some as a paid holiday. Then 2 weeks quickly turned into a month and then another.

A year later, the tourism industry, like some who have been hit by the virus, is on life support.

Over the past 12 months, I have wavered between optimism and depression. One day, I wake up motivated, ready to pivot and kick COVID's ass, the next, I simply want to lie under a rock and have someone wake me up when it's all over.

You see, everyone wants to be a boss, but what they don't tell you about being a boss is that you carry the weight of everyone. Stories of unpaid rent, overdue bills, and empty cupboards...

The Coronavirus came and brought business to a screeching halt, but the world didn't stop. Landlords still needed their rent. People still got sick and they have mouths to feed.

It was downright depressing.

The government stepped in, but it only catered to those under the tax threshold. Let's be honest, how far can you really stretch $9000 per fortnight? But let's not be ungrateful, because every mickle counts, right?

I think one of the saddest part of this entire saga is the people who have been carrying the greatest tax burden of this country were left out to dry when they needed help the most. If you earned over $1.5M annually there was no help for you. You had to lean into savings.

Again, let's be real. How many of you have an emergency fund, much less one that can last for a year? I know so many good hardworking people who have been in total despair having tapped into all their resources.

Thanks to all the banks and financial institutions who have extended moratoriums to those who needed it most. Thanks to companies, like ours, which continue to help even in these tough times.

Side note: By the way, now is a great time to advocate for a state unemployment insurance initiative.

It has been rough.

And while you carry the weight of those around you, those whom you lead, you carry your own burden.

On a personal note, we were just about to close on our home. I thought about the massive hit to our industry and concluded there was no way in hell we could pull this off. But I  am married to a man who is never daunted and who never once wavered in his confidence that "We got this!"

Turns out, he was right. And from this experience, I've learnt one of my biggest lessons of 2020. I can live on far less money than I think I need. We spend far too much money on useless shit (at least, I do). I guess, you really do save a lot of money when you have no choice but to stay home.

For the past year, we have survived. I thank God every day that he has made it possible for us to do so without any undue suffering. Sacrifices? Yes. Oh yes, so many sacrifices even though they may not be captured in the smiling photos shared on Instagram. And to be fair, we remain happy, because there is still a lot to be grateful for.

To make light of things, it does help to have one partner as an essential services worker. At least, one of us is almost always sure of their livelihood. And thank God I have been able to lean into my legal practice.

But even as we have been able to stay afloat, it hasn't been lost on us that many others are not as fortunate. So, we still dug deep to help the single mother who normally wouldn't be caught dead begging, save that she has lost her job and needs to swallow her pride to feed her children. So many of the same stories in our DMs that I've lost count.

"I lost my job to the pandemic. Please help."

And as much as we could, we quietly did.

It's been a rough year.

It's been especially tough for those in tourism and entertainment. Many tourist reliant businesses are still awaiting the disbursement of the promised COVID relief fund. It doesn't help that a year later when we all hoped things would get better and we'd begin to see the light, it all seems to be spiraling out of control.

As a sceptic, I hate to admit that the single ray of hope may actually lie in this vaccine. A hope that it will work. That it will get us back to some level of normalcy, so that we can all get back to work. To taking care of our families.

As we condemn those who continue to hustle, who just can't seem to stay home, please remember, not everyone can pivot. Not all jobs can be done remotely.

Quite frankly, if you are still alive and well (at least physically, because the toll on our mental health is yet to be determined) BE GRATEFUL.

It's been a rough year.

But we all appreciate that life is both beautiful and difficult. Chaotic and sweet.

This is why we have hope.

To all those who have been suffering throughout this pandemic, my prayer  for you is that things will get better.??

Love and light.