Outsports is asking LGBTQ people in sports how they are impacted by the coronavirus crisis and its effects on all aspects of daily life. Today: Katie Sowers, assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers. She identifies as gay.
This pandemic has been something I never imagined would happen, as I am sure many can relate.
I am constantly thinking about the senior student athletes all around the country who did not get a chance to finish their last lap, didn’t get to know it was goodbye, didn’t get to appreciate the last free throw they would take or the last good-game handshake they would encounter.
But as I am thinking about all that, it hit me that this moment is one of the best examples of life. Nothing in life is guaranteed. Not even the March Madness tournament after your team officially made it. It is so critical that we recognize the beauty in that because when we do, we begin to live for today rather than for tomorrow.
I am currently working from my home in California, watching game film of current draft prospects for the 49ers, working on updating our playbook and learning how to cook.
The last one seems odd but I am so used to eating every meal at our facility that I basically had to start at ground zero with groceries and cooking. I am missing my family like crazy, and like most people, finding myself going in and out of the grief process.
The thing that keeps me going is knowing that regardless of who we are, where we came from, who we love, we are all in this together. This is the ultimate team-building test, a team-building test that has asked the whole world to work together in order to accomplish our goal to beat COVID-19.
That is the main reason I wanted to raise money for Meals on Wheels San Francisco through my Cameo videos. Not only am I able to raise money to help out our Bay Area, but I am also hopefully giving someone words of encouragement that they needed to hear.
So far I have done close to 70 videos and raised close to $3,000 with the help of the amazing community.
For anyone listening, please hear me when I say these four things:
- Wash your hands.
- Help someone out when the opportunity comes up.
- Stay at home!
- And most importantly, find joy in today regardless of the situation. It is the only thing promised.
Katie Sowers can be followed on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram
Read Katie’s coming out story.
If you are an out LGBTQ person in sports and want to tell us how the coronavirus crisis has affected your life, email Jim Buzinski ([email protected]).
