COVID Fatigue

Yesterday a buddy of mine texted me. He is also a model who poses for artists and we have worked together ocassionally. We also became friends outside of that environment. His text message to me was one of distress and it concerned me. Like many people these days he had reached a breaking point where the sense of isolation and fatigue has taken a toll on him.

I called so I could hear his voice and it was not the strong vibrant guy I knew. All of these months of Covid home sheltering had gotten to him. I was able to pep him up and we talked about many things for about an hour. By the end of the call he seemed more like himself.

I feel blessed to have my wife and son in the same house with me when we have to be home so much. We also have seen our other two kids recently and we had my wife's brother living with us until recently so I have not felt the same degree of isolation as my friend. He is divorced and lives far from family. I told him I was very confident I am healthy and safe to be with and asked if he would like if I came to see him. He said yes.

I brought him lunch. When he opened the door we hugged and it was like he didn't want to let go. We sat at his kitchen table and ate. We talked during that time and he said he is so tired of his own company and had began to wonder if life was still worth living. I told him I was sorry as his friend that I had not reached out to him. It is strange when I do talk to people I find so many of us are physically isolating from people we know but in many cases we have also stopped talking to them.

After lunch his spirits seemed very much improved. Before I tell what happened next I will share some background. As I said we met because of modeling. He and I were both hired for a job years ago and we worked together a few times after that. The first job had us both nude and embracing. At the time we were both married to beautiful women. He is straight and I am bi but he is one of the least homophobic straight men I know and was comfortable with his skin pressed against mine.

Here are two photos of jobs we worked on together. As you can see, for a straight guy he is very comfortable being nude with another male. We both have a similar philosophy about modeling. It is much like acting to us. In this case he was playing the part of a gay man embracing his lover. In my case I was wishing he was gay or bi and thinking about what fun we could have.

So, we were done eating and he asked if I would be willing to just lay on his bed with him and hold each other. I said of course. I was a bit surprised when we got into his bedroom and he began to undress. I did as he did and soon we were both fully nude. I got onto the bed with him and we turned to face each other and he pulled me in. We made full frontal contact and he could not seem to pull me close enough. We were plastered together. He started crying. I asked him to tell me what he was feeling. He said it had been almost a year since he has touched another human. Just prior to Covid he had broken up with a woman he was dating and they had not been intimate for a while before the breakup so he had not felt the warmth of another body for ages.

I thanked him for feeling comfortable enough with me to tell me how lonely he was and said I was honored he trusted me to share that moment with him. Once again he pulled me in and cried. I held him close and we laid there quite a long time not talking. Eventually he told me he felt so much better and couldn't thank me enough for being there when he needed me. I told him to let me know if he got depressed again and I would return.

Last night he sent a text and told me he felt better then he had all,year. He said it was rough going into lockdown after a breakup that had him already in a bad place. He said it meant everything to him that I understood his need and was willing to let him feel the warmth of my nude body against his.

I encourage all of you to check in on your friends who may be feeling Covid fatigue. It has been a rough time for many people.

Comments

What a great story, and what a great fiend you are!
I have not been held intimately in over a year because my disabled husband is not able to be physically intimate anymore. It's a huge loss for me. I've paid for 2 intimate, erotic massages in the past 9 months, but it's just not the same!
 
A great reminder for counting our blessings. As I continue to struggle with realizing a new lifestyle, and accepting that things will never return to the way they were .... perhaps, I should become more compassionate. The mask covering my face doesn't camouflage my frowning spirit.
 
I have been driving for Uber for about 4 months now. Several times a day I will have a fare who will start talking, about anything at all, and not stop the whole ride, and then sit in the car after we get to their destination to keep talking. I recognize this for what it is, this same kind of ravenous need for contact...it is an epidemic all of its own.
 
@Massey56
My wife and I have been walking a lot during the pandemic and I walk, jog, or run a lot on my own also. There are many neighbor's we never knew who now are also out walking and love to talk. You can tell isolation from their regular routines have left them with a huge void. When I run it is generally on a trail in a park. Some total strangers have talked to me for 15 minutes or more. I have always been a good listener and a shoulder to cry on for my family and friends. if I can help a stranger have a better day too it's my pleasure to take a few minutes to let them talk.
 
The last couple of responses remind me of the true benefits of "gift giving". We receive greater rewards by giving.

My COVID fatigue responsiveness requires fewer selfish acts towards my neighbors. I must still address my personal development in order to remain healthy for society. Isolation has permitted me to explore my disappointments in general. It's helpful to remind others that self-reflection's goals are contrary to depressive reactions. Enlightenment
 
Interestingly, I stumbled upon an article this morning relating to our failures to address COVID fatigue properly. Many of us still "complain" without realizing that others have more complexities to address. Our complaining isolates others from seeking assistance.
 
The past 24 hours of my COVID fatigue has revealed more of my insanity! My attention deficit deficiency is spiraling out of control:worried:. :rolleyes:Multi-tasking complicates my recollection of intended goals, and I proceed to believe my procrastination is an intended consequence of cautionary development :confused:.
 

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Hanging6x6
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