Mary Beth Yeary.

Come Monday, it’ll be the start of the third week since I began to shelter-in-place. It doesn’t quite seem like I’ve been doing this for two weeks, but maybe that’s because shelter-in-place really isn’t too different from what I do every week.

You see, I’m single and I live alone. Most of my hours before COVID-19 were spent with only my dog, Rylee, to keep me company.

Rylee is a ginger Pomeranian-Yorkshire terrier mix. She’s 8 years old and walks on three legs. She spends most of her time on the couch in my living room, though she does enjoy a good walk around the neighborhood every morning and evening.

Yet, even for a sole soul like me, things are a little different now that I’m staying home to keep well and, more importantly, to keep others well. I don’t know if it’s uncertainty, stress, or having the freedom to go wherever I want stripped away but it definitely feels like I am more alone than I ever felt before. However, I’m combatting that sense of loneliness with a few things, some that are new and some that aren’t.

For example, I am still keeping a schedule. I still get up early in the morning to pray and read my Bible before I start anything in my day. I believe talking to God and reading his word from my morning devotional centers my feelings and focus for the day. I know that God didn’t disappear with the coronavirus and he understands those times I’m feeling lonelier than usual. Plus, it really helps to pray for others in a time where I am limited in what I can physically do for them.

After that, I try to take a walk around my neighborhood, Tifton’s historic district, and this has been really enjoyable. I’ve lived in my current house for over three years now, but just recently I discovered I’ve never really paid attention to the neighborhood beyond the block I live on. Now, I’ve been walking for about 30 minutes to an hour a day on the streets to keep healthy. I make sure to always practice social distancing and never get close to homes or other people outside.

I wish I had done this sooner! The historic district has a lot of homes that are colorful, have interesting features, or wonderful gardens. Every block holds something new.

My favorite house is a white mission-style home on Ridge Avenue that has a miniature version of itself on its porch. If you haven’t had a chance to walk around this area, I highly encourage it!

I’m also blessed to have a job that allows me to work from home. I still get dressed for work in my dress pants and shirts like I was going into the Tifton Gazette office. I still take a lunch break around the same time and I try not to get distracted. It’s nice to have Rylee “in office” with me, though she mostly just sleeps on her couch. It’s also wonderful that I can hear the birds outside my window. Though I’m ready for the day I can return back to the office, overall, working from home has been great.

Another thing that has really helped is that my ladies’ group at church has a group text message system that we use. Each night around 8:15-8:30 we report in for the day and have a chat, update each other on what our lives are like and then pray with each other.

We’ve also started a Facebook prayer group page for all of Oak Grove Baptist Church to use. I recently used it to post a message to my youth group, who I miss a ton. Having the nightly texts and the prayer group page really helps me still feel connected to my church family.

Overall, though I’m ready for the day the spread of COVID-19 is over, I’m also looking forward to how I grow thanks to this season of shelter-in-place. I definitely have things that I realize are not that important (such as travel, eating out, or shopping) and things that I realize more than ever are (such as God, family and a stable job that I love). I hope this little reflection on my life can help you get through this time as well.