DEAR HARRIETA: I suffer from extreme allergies all year round and work in a factory. When I get into one of my sneezes or coughs, I can feel my coworkers save themselves.
I understand. Cough and sneezing spread germs and no one wants to take COVID-19. But we all do COVID tests once a week. I have never tested positive. I have allergies.
Trust me – it’s not easy to have them and have to wear a mask, which only makes breathing difficult. But I wear it anyway, just like everyone else. How can I get my co-workers to stop looking at me? It’s hard enough to be there when I’m not feeling well. I don’t appreciate hostility.
Stop Glaring
DEAR I LEAVE TO SEE: Make a sign to put it that says, “I HAVE ALLERGIES, NOT CAVITY.” Seriously, if allowed, you may want to do so. Tell people that you are not a source of germs that need to worry.
I can only imagine how difficult it is to face everyday looks. Continue to take allergy medication. Get the vaccine whenever you feel like it (with your doctor’s approval, as you have allergies) and put up a sign if your supervisor allows it. It can reduce hostility.
DEAR HARRIETA: I want to be better at keeping in touch with people.
I used to stop by and visit people in the days before COVID-19. This included people from my hometown when I went to visit home during the holidays and people from my neighborhood or previous jobs whenever I had some downtime. I am at home all the time now. When people come to my mind, I realize that we haven’t caught up in a long time.
Do you think it’s weird if I start randomly calling people I haven’t talked to in a year? I don’t want to be upset; I just want to sign up. Being alone for months and months brings me weight. I can only imagine that this is true for some of the people I know.
Billing
DEAR PROOF OF: It’s very kind and thoughtful that you want to reconnect with people you haven’t seen or talked to in a long time. It’s natural, given the limitations we’ve had in personal engagement since March last year. I imagine people you know and are interested in would appreciate it if you could contact them.
What I do to stay organized is make a list of the people I care about and want to contact. In writing the names, I pledge to follow it. By checking the names, I know who I called and who is left to arrive. Be creative with your list. Think of seniors, community leaders, family friends, high school friends, college classmates, former co-workers, and more. When you can, use technology to create an intimate connection through video conferencing and even scheduling group chats. Make it fun and engaging. Your loved ones will appreciate it!
Harriette Cole is a life stylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to [email protected] or Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.