The pandemic that has the world upside down has made a company owner reevaluate her purpose in life. Stuck between the walls of her home, Nohemi Lopez has more than enough time to think about her life, family, and work. Lopez owns a cleaning company, Mimi’s House Cleaning. Before the quarantine, she would wake up every morning and head to Denver from Evans for work. She worked 15 hours everyday, 5-6 days a week.

Her company solemnly consists of her and a co-worker. Lopez depended on her work to live. With the recent actions that have been taken by the government, her inability to work has become a huge problem in her life. Economically, various issues have been in light and have increased her stress levels.

Besides her monetary needs, she is faced with the risk of losing her clients. Her mother also was dependent on her and her job, so this has not only affected Nohemi, but her mother too. Not having her job, which brought her happiness, has damaged her physical and emotional status. Some of her clients who became very fond of her have sent checks in advance and this has helped her immensely with her bills.

Her significant other, who is employed, has also helped with her economic issues, Lopez said, “If it wasn’t for him bringing home the check every week, I don’t know what I would do.” Being stuck at home has brought her opportunities to continue doing what she has always loved, like reading and cooking.

Lopez said, “ I look for a blessing in every curse. I know that with faith and a good attitude, we will get through this.” Throughout the day, she likes to stay informed about COVID-19 by watching the news in order to keep her family safe. This has granted her more time to be with her family in a new way, virtual interactions.

“I have been able to think about my family, and it has made me realize even more that family is important and how I should’ve spent more time with them in the opportunity I had, because we never know when it’s going to be our last day with them,” said Lopez. With time to reflect, she has thought about what she wants to do when this is all over.

“This has motivated me to be closer with my family, and be more healthy, along with taking care about myself,” she said. COVID-19 isn’t a dream and it is something that we all need to be careful about. It has brought sadness and difficult times to many people who have jobs and depend on them. Lopez constantly worked, becoming a hobby that she constantly pursued, but now she has figured out that there is more to life than just working.

Before the interview ended, she wanted to leave a couple words of encouragement for all the other women and people who were left unemployed. Lopez said, “ We all have to realize that this is for the better of our families and our communities. I know that it is hard but we have to keep going and not give up. There will be brighter days after the storm, and we can all do this if we work together.”