Winter 2019/20 was pretty rough. As a sufferer of seasonal depression (NYC baybay), that’s pretty par for the course. The lack of sunlight, the frigid cold, and the convenience of being able to have anything delivered turns into a very dark self-induced nightmare. But every year I remind myself that it’s temporary. Well, that wasn’t the case for the rest of 2020. Those antisocial and agoraphobic habits translated well to isolation, but my mental health never improved. It just got worse. 

While the next winter wasn’t quite as bad, there’s really no escaping that annual ennui. But with Covid-19 cases plunging, vaccinations being administered, and the city opening up, I was hopeful for the summer. Now that it’s here, I realize that was wishful thinking. The side effects of the pandemic are still present. The newly busy streets have instilled anxiety and misanthropy in my heart. And while having a drink at a real bar certainly helps to quell the nerves, I’m still not my normal self. And from what I can tell from my near-problematic internet usage, there are a lot of people feeling the same way. These memes should serve as a healthy reminder that no, you’re not alone. No, you’re not «broken,» and that in time, with perspective, you may just start to feel better. Keep yer chins up, and hopefully by 2025 things will feel at least a little more normal.