Surviving yet another Lockdown

Social distancing, quarantine, lockdown were all things we never knew in person but over the last year we gained first-hand experience in these areas. When we were first told to stay at home and don’t leave unless it is a necessity we never thought it would last this long. At first it wasn’t so bad, we liked staying at home, not having to wake up early in the morning, getting ready, catching the bus, rushing to school or work, being late to places. So, we liked it to some extent. We had a new routine, found new hobbies and lived in the comfort of our own homes. But, as it went on and on it wasn’t so fun anymore. We got tired of seeing the same faces, ran out of things to do at home, boredom and laziness became our best friends. This may not be the case for everyone but at least for some people this became the reality. So, we wanted to get back to our “normal” life. Just when we thought it was going back to normal, we were hit with another lockdown and then another one. Soon enough this became the new normal. Social distancing, wearing a mask, staying at home as much as possible became their new lifestyle, it is now normal. 

While finding ways to get through each day we may have started new hobbies such as working out, learning how to cook and bake, learning how to play an instrument, “Marie Kondoing” the entire house, things we always wanted to do but didn’t have the time for. All of a sudden we have all the time in the world to do things that we always wanted to try. Just like that I am sure at least some of us discovered the importance of spending time with ourselves. The silence around us helped us listen to our thoughts and ideas and become creative in many different ways. 

Spending some time alone with yourself makes you realise the importance of silence. Silence can be uncomfortable but at the same time thoughtful. Before the first lockdown I never thought I will have to think twice before leaving the house to meet a friend but during the lockdown forget meeting a friend we couldn’t even just run to the store to grab a snack. Now when I want to leave home I ask myself is it necessary that I do. Not because I don’t want to see my friends or go shopping but because I found happiness and comfort in my own company. Being by myself does not mean I am alone or lonely it means I am spending time with myself. Time to think, think to take a step back, time to do things that you may never have thought you will. 

Even though we like the noise, we like the crowd, we like our friends, we like going outside and spending time with people, want to go traveling and explore all the places we have looked up throughout the many lockdowns we lived through we have started liking our own company. We need our family, friends, teachers, colleagues but, more than that we need ourselves and find happiness within ourselves. 

When lockdown prevented us from spending time with anyone outside our household it also made us get closer to ourselves and to the one who will always be there for us, God. At the end of this long road when we come out of another lockdown let us remember to spend time with ourselves and continue to be creative in ways we can get through times like this with the hope that better days are yet to come.