Most pandemic-ridden folks can’t help but think they never would have imagined themselves where they are now — more than halfway through the year with the situation raging on. For many, it’s also not so hard to imagine anywhere else they’d rather be. Thus, the “Mentally I’m Here” meme was created to give new meaning to the phrase “I’d rather be anywhere but here” during the pandemic.
Users typically write “Mentally I’m here” or something similar to the phrase in their tweets. Then, they attach an image of where they wish they could be. There are a number of variations, which we’ve broken out below.
Missing Travel
For those unable to travel due to restrictions, the meme is often used to pay tribute to the places they love, like amusement parks.
Others are opting to choose fictional settings for “Mentally I’m here.” One user took screenshots from a Spongebob episode where the titular character visited his grandparents. With the pandemic keeping many people from seeing their families, who wouldn’t want a trip to Grandma’s?
But the meme holds MUCH more meaning than that for many people. See why…