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Self-Isolation Day 4: Hello

Hi there.

My name is Ryan and this is an interesting time to be alive. SARS-CoV-2 and the resulting COVID-19 is making its way around the world and like many other people I'm now confined mostly to my home for the foreseeable future.

I've often described myself as "a really easy-going guy" and an optimist. My partner is the worrier in our relationship and I'm the one always reassuring her that everything's going to be alright. Our discussions about the COVID-19 epidemic have followed this pattern so far, but I'm starting to think that maybe her reaction is the more rational one in this scenario. As an optimist, that's pretty scary. It's scary to think that it's not going to be alright and it's scary to think that I've been a fool to think so. Mostly, it's scary to not know exactly how scared I should be.

Anyway, today I happened upon this article in which a University of Virginia professor urged his students and everyone else to write down their experiences during these unprecedented times. In addition to documenting a unique moment in history, I've decided to take his advice because I think it could be therapeutic to share my experiences and hopefully find solace through community. I'm also a writer by trade so this is sort of my thing.

So the plan is to write a short post every day (or close to it) documenting my life and mindset in these strange times. Please leave comments below with your own experiences and hopefully we can all get through this together.

Stay healthy and sane.
-Ryan

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