Opinion: How to make the best of a “Coronacation”
Courtesy of Patrick Gendusa
April 13, 2020
The universe always has a way of stepping in and setting us straight. The one positive thing that has happened from the Coronavirus is that it has made us all STOP.
We go nonstop between classes, homework, jobs, partying and procrastinating. For the past year I have been waking up at 4am to begin my work day and not stopping until 11pm.
That’s insane!
I live on Royal Street in the French Quarter and the party never stops here either. There is a parade passing outside my living room on any given night at 2am.
We all complain that we have so much to do and so little time. Our “Coronaction” is forcing us all to pause and take care of ourselves. It has removed the pressure of the daily grind. So do it! Take care of yourselves!!
“Cornacation” To Do List:
- Go to bed early and sleep late.
- TURN OFF THE NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA!!!
- Watch feel good or mindless TV shows like:
- Schitt’s Creek (Netflix)
- Kids Baking Championship (Hulu) – Trust me on this! It will make your heart smile!!
- Sex Education (Netflix)
- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime)
- Guilty Pleasures – The Golden Girls, Will & Grace, Living Single, Designing Women (Hulu)
- The Original Kings of Comedy (Netflix)
- Dave Chapelle (Netflix)
- Dead to Me (Netflix)
- Tales of the City (Netflix)
- Wanda Sykes Not Normal (Netflix)
- Have a dance party. Check out my dance party playlist
- Read or listen to audiobooks.
- Take walks and ride a bike
- Do nothing!
This is a historic time we are living in and experiencing. We are part of a moment in history that will live in infamy. Don’t focus on what you don’t have, but what you DO have…time!
We have been given the gift of time. Use it. Enjoy it!
Don’t feel pressure to be productive. It’s ok to just take care of yourself, feel what you need to feel and do what you need to do. We are all experiencing this in our own way. All you need to worry about is YOU!
Be good to yourself and know that you are not alone. Your Loyola family is just an email, text message, phone call or video chat away. Just reach out if you need us.
We love you and we will get through this together. In the meantime, get caught up on your sleep, watch something fun, and dance like you’ve never danced before!!!
“Love yourself, accept yourself, forgive yourself, and be good to yourself, because without you the rest of us are without a source of many wonderful things.” – Leo Buscaglia
David • Apr 15, 2020 at 6:48 pm
Thank you for writing this article, Patrick.
Although I’m sure “Frank” is speaking from his frame of reference and I do value the freedom of speech, he does not understand your vast experience with the students at Loyola. You see them everyday and you hear and can feel their struggles and stresses they bring everyday to class. I will err on the side of listening to a Professor who knows his students more than any teacher I know. Thank you for all your hard work at Loyola and being an excellent role model to my son and other students who are learning who they are and the value they bring to our world. Looking over the 12 Jesuit Ideals and Values on Loyola’s website, I do see “Commitment to Service” and that is important, but your approach to teaching covers the other 11 more thoroughly than anyone I know. Great ideas for young adults who are struggling to cope with the pandemic and need some healthy ways to both relax and expand their minds. Not a Golden Girls fan though, but this is your opinion… 🙂
Kathleen Gendusa • Apr 14, 2020 at 9:48 am
Well, well, well!!! We do believe that the “writer” of this opinion really “hit the nail on the head”. Everything he said was soooo true. We never think of these things unless a disaster such as the Corona virus hits us, and then we really have to take stock of what to do with our time and our lives until we get the “all clear” sign to begin living a “normal” existence once again. Of course, we all realize that there will never be a “normal” life again. Patrick has given everyone a great deal to think and ponder over since we all have the time now. Time was a luxury that most of you have not had before, so listen to what this young man said and give yourselves this gift of “time”. He knows all too well of what he speaks. In case you have not put two and two together yet, we are the extremely proud parents of this wonderful “young” man. We miss him terribly, his smiling face, his great laugh, but most of all his HUGS. We are praying for him and the whole Loyola family that you will stay healthy, safe and come back to Loyola when it will be safe to return.
Great article Patrick!!! We love and miss you, Mom and Dad
Frank • Apr 14, 2020 at 7:52 am
Stop. Stop using the word “CORONACATION”. This is not a vacation. We are in quarantine during a global pandemic. It might be a time for some people to”stop” as you suggest but the doctors, nurses, and caregivers can’t stop. There are people dying. People dead. People who are gravely ill. People who are in mourning. People who have been laid off and find themselves without healthcare in the middle of a health crisis. People who mentally can’t handle isolation. People who are experiencing trauma and a nation that will be suffering from collective PTSD when this is over. These people include Loyola students.
So stop. Stop telling students this is a vacation. Start telling them this is a time to put their armor on. This is the time to prepare to live up to the Jesuit ideals they are being taught. This is not the time to relax this is the time when they should be finding ways to serve.
If you don’t feel up to that task then the least you can do is stop telling students how you are viewing their tragedy as a vacation.