I admit it, I’ve been pretty selfish in regards to this coronavirus interruption of 2020.

It kills me to think the first four months of this year (and possibly more) is being wiped out by a virus no one can see. It pisses me off me to think my upcoming precious summer days appear to be in jeopardy. It annoys me to no end to see so many precious things I hold near and dear to me being threatened.

It especially saddened me to no end when the NHL decided to suspend their season and cancel the playoffs. I love the sport of hockey and with the Wild on the verge of playoff contention, I was SO looking forward to some spring hockey.

It has also saddened me to no end to not see Twins baseball so far in April. Nothing says spring to me like the crack of baseball bats and the sounds of leather mitts snatching balls out of the air and umpires screaming “strike three!”

Restaurants. It bothers me so much that the wife and I can’t go out on a Friday or Saturday night to an Applebee’s, a Trail’s or a Los Ortizes. And it bothers me to no end that I can’t call a friend up to meet me at Charlie’s, Lupulin’s or Buffalo Wild Wings.

It pains me to be restricted from meeting up with my large family in a public setting like a park, a sporting event or a movie theater and not be able to shake a hand or give a hug. And it pains me to not gather at my church or with my small group during a time where camaraderie and fellowship deems so important.

So far, 2020 has really — well, to put it bluntly, it has sucked.

But that’s from my perspective. That’s from my own selfish point of view. Sometimes, I admit, I forget to look outside myself.

Sometimes I need to recognize the anxieties of those small businesses and companies that are hanging on barely during this “stay-at-home” edict. Sometimes I need to recognize the trials and tribulations parents are going through with trying to balance their work schedules, meals, studies and child care. Sometimes I need to recognize the loneliness some people feel being isolated from others who are, or may be vulnerable COVID-19 candidates.

Sometimes I am ashamed at how inconsiderate I am when the world revolves around just me.

Am I thinking of others during this awful time, or is it all about me? Am I doing something proactive to help others or am I complaining, ignoring and behaving childish? Am I looking at things with my eyes or my heart?

I can’t imagine what my friends who own a bar/restaurant are doing during this state shutdown. I can’t imagine the guilt and sadness business owners have had to experience when they’ve been forced to explain to their employees they’ve lost their jobs. I can’t imagine the stress and anguish health care people are feeling as they don their gloves and masks and stand at the front line each and every day.

And I can’t imagine how seniors from the Class of 2020 are feeling as they watch their most important year of their school lives get erased from the calendar.

Why can’t I imagine?

Because I find myself missing a game, a family gathering or a dinner at Applebee’s with the wife.

Forgive me restaurateurs.

Forgive me nurses and doctors.

Forgive me small business owners.

Forgive me seniors (as in elderly and high schoolers).

Forgive me.