Campbell Matheis
by Campbell Matheis…
We are currently living in a time period in which human interaction is highly restrained as well as highly necessary. It is actually the lack of human contact that has allowed for an influx of ingenuity and creativity in order to fill that void within our lives. When reflecting on my own experience of quarantine I have relied heavily on the presence of my family and the online connections with both teammates and friends. It is easy in these types of moments to allow yourself to sink into negative thoughts and isolation, however what I have been working on doing is rather constantly yearning for the past, instead try to see the silver lining within this present day life.
Being in a family of six, as we have grown older it becomes even harder to find times when we can all come together. Therefore moments when we could all find a special restaurant to rejoice all together was something we cherished. However now being back all under the same roof we have made a family cooking competition so that we can all learn new skills and share as many meals as possible together. (Tonight I’m in charge of taco tuesday đ
We also live in a very close-knit community, therefore there has been an emphasis on safely supporting local businesses. My sister and I traveled to our beloved ice cream shop, in which we had to be socially distant and there was no available seating. It was such a peculiar feeling considering it is a place in which many people in our town go to socialize.
Lastly, my team has become very innovative and have been doing Zoom exercises together. It has been a great way to both connect with each other and use exercise as an outlet throughout what we are facing. There is something so empowering when we come together at the end and cheer âGo âGate!!!â. No matter where we are in the world and what we are facing, love conquers all.
I believe we have the power to view this change as an exciting challenge rather than something that will defeat us. It is incredibly difficult to stay positive when facing a virus that is harming our family members, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and a wide range of individuals around this world.
However the day the news broke at Colgate, I went to Kinneyâs Pharmacy to receive a couple of last minute necessities. An older woman stopped me in the parking lot due to since she was a professorâs wife, she knew the emotions I must be feeling. The one thing she advised me was that in life âwe canât control what happens, however we can control how we react to itâ this was something that I truly took to heart. When I returned home I learned that the people who are physically and virtually with me were going to be critical in hopes of supporting each other through this time.
This post is so great to see your family working together during this challenging time to stay positive. That quote that you shared of âwe canât control what happens, however we can control how we react to it,â is so impactful to me. I have always tried to be optimistic in life, as it is a trait that my dad has always engrained within me. I have been hard on myself during this “unknown time” because there has been days that are really challenging to view life in a positive light when so many people are suffering. However, I will continue to look towards the future and hope for what is to come. And thank you for sharing the ways in which your family has kept busy, I love the cooking competition ! Enjoy taco Tuesday đ
Thank you for sharing Campbell! Now has been a good time to spend time we don’t normally have with family. Your cooking competition is a great idea! Its also been so important to find new ways to connect with friends. Using video chats has been helpful in feeling less isolated and a fun way to still spend time together even though we are far apart.
YES CAMPBELL. I loved it when you said to take this as a challenge rather than something to hear or take into a negative heart. At this time, we cannot wallow, we have to find ways to not only help ourselves but help those around us, whether it be family, friends, or fellow community members. Just like your family, we have been trying to support local food places as well. seeing if they are open so we can get take out. Just something to show that we are trying and we are there. Great job girl.
I am totally stealing the cooking competition idea. What a great way to bond with family members! It must be an interesting change to have all of your siblings and your parents under the same roof. I also loved to see that your field hockey team is zooming together to do workouts. That is epic!
I also liked the quote that the professor’s wife told you: âwe canât control what happens, however we can control how we react to itâ. I definitely think that I need to sort of shift my mentality on this whole pandemic, and switch my reaction to a more positive one. Thanks for ending your post with that quote. I am going to try and take that quote to heart as you did!
Hi Campbell! It’s true that there are silver linings to being in quarantine. I have also been trying to appreciate this unforeseen family time, because I previously thought I would be moving out right after graduation. I also think it’s great that you reframed this situation as a challenge that can be defeated. It’s better to think about the things we can control, like our modes of accompaniment and how we can take care of ourselves, rather than getting caught up in everything out of our control.
I think getting to spend time together with family is the silver lining in this for many of us. For sure, it is precious, found time, and it’s wonderful to see you all together!
Campbell I love this post, thank you for being so vulnerable and really bringing us into your family through your writing. I really appreciated the way that you demonstrated so many of the positive aspects that we can come out of this quarantine having gained. I too am in a family of six people who are all currently staying at home together. This has not happened since I moved away to Colgate and so it has been a really unique time for sure. While I have been isolated from them, it has still been so rewarding for me to interact with my brothers who were so small when I left and seemed to have grown up while I was gone and to be able to have some of my mother homemade cooking I rarely get to eat. Thank you so much for this really important post with such an optimistic outlook.
Campbell, thank you so much for this post! I really appreciated that you included pictures of your family and team throughout–it made me smile. This post was a great reminder to stay positive, hopeful and to love and support people.
I totally agree – as you mentioned, the quarantine has also allowed me to spend time at home with my older siblings who have moved into NYC and no longer live at home. Although these are incredibly unique circumstances, it has given us the opportunity to live together as a family under one roof again and I am grateful for these moments – big and small. We also have been doing the team zoom once a week – it is a nice way to brighten my day and feel connected to my teammates who are scattered across the country!
Ahh this was so amazing to read Campbell!! I was really looking forward to reading this since our brainstorming session and you really did a great job. I loved the theme of not yearning for the past, but to focus on the good we have now. There truly is no better and necessary mentality to have during this crazy time. We have no control over this, but you highlight that we have the power to not see it as a defeating thing, but as an exciting challenge. I also loved how you incorporated pictures, they are so happy!
Aw, Campbell!! I loved reading through this and looking at all the photos you included. I especially loved when you wrote, “I believe we have the power to view this change as an exciting challenge rather than something that will defeat us.” How powerful!! You clearly crushed the Q <3