COVID-19 has made spending time with family and friends in-person impossible over the last year. We’ve all gotten used to zoom date nights, zoom birthday parties, zoom lectures, even zoom concerts. Life has changed. We’ve all adapted to these changes, we had to. As March comes to a close and we approach the beautiful spring months, we can look forward to using the better weather to our advantage by having socially distanced gatherings with people outside. There are so many activities that you can take part in individually as well as in a group that are outside, exciting and most importantly, safe for everyone involved.
Picnics
Aesthetically pleasing picnics are all the rage on TikTok right now. Just pick a color and go with it. I love the color sage green, so I’d pick a green picnic blanket, green foods, maybe even bake a green cake. Just go along with that theme. Tell your friends to wear everything green, including green masks. Just have fun with it. Make a charcuterie board, as made famous on TikTok and Instagram lately. Think about the last time you saw your favorite people. Wouldn’t it be fun, on a perfectly warm day, to pack up your favorite food and just be around those people again? This could be an excuse to wear that new outfit you bought last summer, you know, the one you haven’t been able to wear yet because all you’re wearing is sweatpants and oversized sweatshirts? No judgment, I’ve been in sweatpants and sweatshirts since March 12th, 2020. Think about how refreshing it could be not only to be outside in beautiful weather but to be around people that genuinely make you happy. People you haven’t seen in a year. Getting to eat delicious food, surrounded by wonderful people sounds like the perfect way to spend a spring Saturday in New Jersey. Making sure you’re separated by 6 feet of course, you’re all still able to be in the same safe, open environment together, catching up in person, hearing about all the crazy things happening or not happening in their life in the pandemic.
Drive-In Movies
I am possibly the biggest fan of drive-in movies. I love the entire vibe. The way you feel like you’re stepping back into the 1950s is so exciting. I love going to a drive-in and seeing an older movie, preferably in black and white. Something like Breakfast at Tiffany’s or Casablanca. Those kinds of movies allow you to feel like you’re in an entirely different era. Drive-in movies sound like such a great solution to not being able to watch movies regularly with your friends, plus you receive an entirely different experience. You get to stay in your nice warm car, bring your own favorite snacks. It’s perfect! So, just tell your friends or family to meet you at the drive-in, the third row, parking spots 12 and 13, that way you can be next to each other without risking anything, health considered. By parking next to each other, you’ll be able to talk before and after the film while seeing their reactions to certain scenes in the movie. You could even decide as a friend group to dress up like certain characters in the film. If you’re seeing Star Wars, someone could dress up as Luke, while another dresses up as Leia or Chewbacca. This could be such a cool way to interact with each other while engaging in the movie.
Drive and Watch the Sunset
One thing that many young adults have been doing since the pandemic took over is driving to watch the sunset. Whether they’re driving to the beach, to the top of a hill, or watching it set on the balcony of a building, they’re making time for what’s sure to be the most alluring part of the day. This is definitely something that you could do with your friends. Just use the weather app on your phone. It’ll tell you when the sun will begin to set. Tell your friends to meet you at the designated destination five minutes before the sun starts to set. That will give the people running late (you know there’s always a couple of them) time to get there and set up. As the sun starts to set, take pictures of each other. Capture the moment. Getting to be with the important people in your life after such a long period of not being together has to be so powerful. Being able to feel that kind of unexplainable joy through connection with other people is something that not a lot of people have experienced this year. Put on your favorite masks and take some gorgeous photos. I mean what better background is there than the sun? So think of that perfect spot, the one with the perfect view of the skyline, and plan a get-together. Use this as a time to get outside, connect with nature as well as each other, and just focus on breathing. This entire year I believe it’s been so easy to just forget to breathe and slow down. Go to the beach, the top of a hill, your old school’s playground and watch the sun clear away the day. While the sun sets, just close your eyes and be proud of yourself. Be proud that you got through another day. And feel blessed to have experienced that with people who will always be there for you in a world that is so full of confusion.
This entire year, we’ve all been forced to stay away from the people who have gotten us through the most. Whether those people be your friends, your family, your cousins, your grandparents, your teachers, anyone. We’ve all felt separated, and in most cases, lonely. As the sky clears, as the snow melts and the flowers start to bloom, look at this beautiful time of growth and rebirth as encouragement to do the same in your personal life. You’ve been through so much this year, everyone has, but use this time to heal, to grow, to reconnect with yourself and the people you hold close. Go outside. Take your dog for a walk. Go on a drive to absolutely nowhere, drive in circles if you want. Take advantage of the clear spring air and use it as a way to explore, regain that love for nature as well as for yourself.