My family moved across the country nearly five months ago after my husband got a new job in Texas.
The infamous 2020, worldwide pandemic, and national unrest: Yup, we jumped ship amid all that chaos.
And although starting over is never easy, I’m thankful to say that the Lord has been faithful to us.
We were blessed to buy our first home, we had affordable movers who safely relocated our belongings in just two days, my husband’s dental practice had not been affected by COVID-19, and our move granted me the opportunity to leave my stressful job and focus on my purpose.
The transition felt seamless as we settled into our new state, but as time went on, I began to realize that there was one obstacle facing our new life: how would we meet people during a pandemic?
We moved at the end of August 2020, so although restaurants, stores, and gyms were open, COVID-19 numbers were still rising. My husband and I would safely venture out to explore our surroundings, but it wasn’t that the many people we saw led to actual connections.
Meeting new people can be awkward in general, but imagine us—with masks on in the middle of a pandemic—approaching the young couple laughing in the restaurant booth across from us and saying, “Hey, we’re new in town and trying to connect with like-minded folks and you two look fun. Want to be friends?”
*Awkward*
And it wasn’t like we had other “normal” ways of meeting people. In church? Most are either not open or their small groups aren’t meeting in person. At work? Maybe for my husband, but I was currently housewifing it. And our new city has tons of social groups from LIT bible studies to young professional associations, but the majority have suspended events.
New city, no family or friends, and the pandemic doesn’t want you to be great. What’s an extrovert to do?
Enter Meetup.com.
I had first discovered Meetup about seven years ago when I moved to Atlanta after college. Back then the idea of meeting up with strangers sounded odd, but over the years I have come to appreciate platforms like Meetup that connect people around different interests.
Although I hadn’t used the tool in years, I decided to browse Meetup to see what my new city had to offer. And to my surprise, I discovered a ton of different active groups. One in particular caught my eye, and this new group was having an in-person meet and greet that weekend.
Now, I think it’s pretty safe to say that this is the first time most people have had to navigate life through a pandemic of this magnitude. So, of course, a range of questions and concerns come to mind as you consider meeting new people:
- Will everyone be wearing masks?
- Will we practice social distancing?
- Am I being too risky?
- Is meeting new people worth a risk or even responsible right now?
My husband and I had all these thoughts and more as we made our way to that meet and greet. We walked up to a group of people sitting around a table, uncertain of our masks, their backgrounds, our choice to even be there . . . everything.
But as were welcomed with friendly hellos and warm smiles and began talking with these strangers, I quickly realized one thing: they were just like us, trying to navigate this current time of uncertainty.
One woman had moved to the area one year ago but was quickly isolated after COVID hit. Some were so busy with work that they struggled to meet people while others had recently moved because of a job.
They had reservations and weren’t sure about taking risks, but just like my husband and I, they were human beings in need of physical connection.
It is estimated that around 3 million Americans make an interstate move each year. In 2020, United Van Lines reported that 40 percent of Americans moved because of a new job or job transfer.
Even with the unprecedented year that was 2020, life still happened. Not everyone was in a situation where they could continue to safely meet with their small circle of family or friends. Many people found themselves isolated in new cities (most of the people at the Meetup we attended lived alone) and prolonged isolation can eventually affect our mental and emotional wellbeing.
More than 264 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and the coronavirus has increased mental health issues, with data revealing that people have felt lonelier and more anxious during this pandemic.
The world seems to be falling apart. You still have to relocate to a new state. Quarantining was already suffocating and the rising case numbers don’t boost your hopes of making new connections anytime soon. Add to that the feelings of loneliness and isolation and it’s very easy to see why our Meetup group was one of many occurring that day.
Making friends as an adult isn’t easy, in fact 45 percent of Americans admit that it’s hard. And the idea of meeting new people while in a pandemic that pushes social distancing certainly doesn’t help.
I know some who would side eye the thought of physically connecting with people right now. It’s risky and irresponsible and we have to accept that some things have to be put on hold during a pandemic.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion—and we know this virus has revealed many different opinions—but I want to stress that human beings need each other.
We weren’t built to exist in isolation.
And we cannot allow our social distancing to create social neglect.
Technology’s capabilities are amazing, and I thank God we’re able to connect virtually. But for some, virtual cannot replace the in-person experience, and if people feel comfortable connecting this way then more power to them.
We can debate all day about the best or most responsible ways to interact during a pandemic, but whether we’re fostering new relationships or strengthening old ones, I don’t think how we connect should overshadow the importance of making an effort to stay connected.