Sometimes, we just need that space to reset ourselves. And the world.
A lot of you have been asking me for my thoughts on the current pandemic. But I’m a beauty blogger. Not a health expert. So, I’m not capable of giving advice on such a serious health issue. There’s already too much misinformation out there. I choose not to add to the chaos.
On a personal level, this comes after I’ve already been homebound for 3 weeks due to being seriously sick with gut issues. Right now, not being able to step out of the house is making me feel claustrophobic.
But I actually consider myself privileged, with access to the best healthcare, food and technology. I also work from home, so my infrastructure is already in place. So many don’t have a smidgen of that… and we should thank our stars and try to give back in whatever way we can.
What I really wake up panicking about is my parents. They are not young. And my mom has been very sick in the past, so her immune system is compromised. With dwindling supplies and having given their staff time off (because they need to be safe too), the pressure on my dad is super-high. If I could coddle them in cotton and keep them safe, I would. But I can’t even be there.
So, I urge all of you – look out for those who are vulnerable.
And stick to the rules.
Whether it’s #socialdistancing or #selfisolation, it’s not only about you. One person can put thousands at risk. You may not fall sick but you can carry it to someone else.
And since this virus feeds on human contact, the only way to #flattenthecurve is by stepping away.
And in any case, I think we’ve all been spinning way too hard… too much travel, too many meetings, too many nights out… just pushing ourselves all the time.
I’m taking this extra time to heal by catching up with my books, giving my gut time-out with home cooked meals, being more intentional with my beauty rituals and rehabilitating my skin and just trying to find small joys where I can. In short, just slowing down.
And yes, I redesigned this blog. Which is something I have been wanting to do for more than six months but somehow could just never find the time.
Sometimes, we just need that space to reset ourselves. And the world.
Sending you all a huge virtual hug.
How are YOU dealing? Can I help?
Anubha Charan is the founder of The Beauty Gypsy and a beauty journalist with more than 25 years in the industry — as the former Beauty Director at Marie Claire, where she worked with the magazine's Paris headquarters, Managing Editor at Vogue, and Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan. She trained in perfumery in Grasse, France, and spent six years reporting on beauty from Paris.
Her work has also appeared in Travel + Leisure, WebMD, and Architectural Digest, and she is the co-author of Paris Bath & Beauty, a book on French beauty rituals published by Simon & Schuster.
