A Shift in the Air

March 27, 2020 9:00am (PST)

The day began like any other. I woke to the familiar, comforting scent of morning coffee. I attempted another online workout—kids zigzagging around me, full of energy and blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding in the world. The air outside was crisp, but something felt different.

Change was coming. I could feel it in my bones.

The looming presence of the Coronavirus was no longer just a headline—it was creeping into our daily lives, reshaping everything. At first, I dismissed the panic. It felt like an overreaction. But it didn’t take long for the reality to hit: friends, neighbors, and family members were getting sick. Hospitals were overwhelmed. There weren’t enough beds, staff, or answers.

It all felt surreal.

Over the past week, that surreal feeling turned into something eerily familiar—like the heavy, uncertain days following September 11th. The chills I feel now are different, but they come just as often. Businesses are shuttering. People are losing jobs. Families are scraping together whatever hope and resources they can. I’ve never seen so much change, so fast. The collective anxiety is palpable.

And today, it hit even closer to home.

While we’re still healthy, we received news that my husband’s salary is being cut by 15%, and his commission—our financial lifeline—is being cut in half. Since having kids, we’ve relied almost entirely on his income. This isn’t just a minor setback. It’s a punch to the gut.

“How are we supposed to pay our bills? Afford rent?” These questions play on a loop in my mind. But I know we’re not alone. Families everywhere are wondering the same thing.

What can we actually do to prevent this economic collapse? How do we stop millions from losing everything?

I find myself thinking: What if we just paused the housing market altogether? What if—just for a while—no one had to pay rent or mortgages? Housing is the biggest expense for most people. Maybe I’m naive. Maybe I don’t understand the full economic picture.

But if we’re all in the same boat… shouldn’t we be bailing out the water together?