Life Because of CoViD-19

A lot of health measures were imposed due to CoViD-19, and I think this was the longest time I’ve stayed at home. I’ve experienced heaps of emotions which have affected my outlook of life. The bottom line is I knew I was not alone. We all have a fair share of ups and downs because of this pandemic.

The reason why I made this blog post is that I wanted to reach out to people and make them feel that they are not alone. This blog post is curated by different people from varying walks of life, who have shared their real-life experiences and realizations. I wanted to illuminate positivism, acceptance, and validation, hence this idea.

This wouldn’t be possible without the support of my amazing friends who took the time to reflect and open their shells. Thank you!

This is a developing post. You may send me an e-mail if you’re interested to share your thoughts.

The Lost Girl

It’s crazy to think about the first time I heard of CoViD-19. I was on duty at the airport and it scared me to the bones when I realized that that was the first place the Chinese people would land. I felt really alarmed when airlines started to cancel flights in and out of China. That continued for about a month and a half until they finally put Manila on lockdown. Well, I knew then that virus has already spread in Manila. The good thing was, I was able to go home to my province before lockdown.

The first few days of quarantine, I must say, felt like a vacation. I had too much time to make-up for sleepless nights but eventually, I realized that this has become the new normal. I didn’t even know when I can go back to Manila. However, the universe must have heard me and responded so quickly that I received news that changed my life. I lost the job I’ve had for roughly two years. I didn’t really know what to feel, but I was sad because I’ll surely miss my workmates. However, at the same time, I felt relieved because it was something that I am not very passionate about. One thing is certain, this pandemic made me realize that my career does not suit me so well. I enjoyed it at first but that’s it. My career in Hospitality is done.

During these trying times, I felt like a little girl lost in the middle of nowhere. I am definitely scared of my future and can’t figure anything out.

Life is really a maze with so many unexpected turns.

After much contemplation, I wanna share some of my realizations.

The first is to make the most of life. We only have one life. Do everything that you want to do, more importantly, the things that make you happy. Live your life with no regrets.
The second is to be thankful for the little things. I have to be honest but I have complained many many times before. It’s not a good thing, I know. Yet, this pandemic made me realize that you have to be contented with what you have. I have been so blessed that I can eat 3-4 times a day. We have a WiFi even though it’s less speedy and disconnects a lot. Just complain a little less and be contented.
Lastly, is to reconnect with your family. I must admit that I have missed my parents so much. Living away from them has made me brave and independent. However, there is nothing better than spending time with family and friends, going home, and eating real food. This is the perfect time to make up for the lost time. We should always cherish our loved ones. Make them feel how much you care for them.

Going through this CoViD-19 pandemic has never been easy for all of us.

I know for sure that I’m not the only one in this situation but we can get through this together. Let’s do our best to focus on the now and make lasting memories. There may be some of you who were like me, lost. I know you’re scared of the uncertainty. You might not figure anything out. But take this opportunity to redesign your life choices. Off to new beginnings!

Hopeful Homebuddy

One of the realizations I had during the first few days of quarantine was that a lot of people are so out of touch with reality. I think that the CoViD crisis was a harsh wake-up call. Or, at least, a harsh expose, to everyone whether they were affected or not affected by the virus. It revealed the government’s incompetence, the rich’ ignorance with their privilege, and the severe unpreparedness of a lot of people.

The crisis highlighted what kind of dystopian present we are currently living in. Our country is bound to fail because of corruption by the government and the naiveness of the people. It is also a scary and depressing thought because no matter how many voices express their disdain, the iron fist already dented the golden throne.

On a more personal note, I just realized that I am fine with isolation. The comfort of being locked inside your home was conventional.

However, I also learned that with this lockdown, we are all going to be on a life halt. Our plans and goals for the year set back for a couple of months or years.

Blue Space Cadet

When I first heard of CoViD, I felt scared at the same time anxious. I mean, there’s a lot of things running through my mind; there are a lot of what if’s.

I realized that life is short and that you really don’t have control over things like this pandemic. Most of the time I felt blue, I mean I’m a jolly and outgoing person that loves a large crowd. I always have the company of my friends. Also, there’s a lot of things that because of CoViD, were canceled. It all sums up to the feeling or state of being lonely.

A lot has changed in me.

I’ve learned to properly deal with my finances. I now keep in mind that I should have always cash ready in times of emergency/pandemic like this when it’s difficult to make ends meet. I also have shifted plans where the much-needed things must be bought in the following months instead of those that were not really of great use.

If I’m given a chance to speak to myself prior to CoViD, I’ll tell myself to save money. Always have something to use during emergencies. Savings is important.

I cope up with my fears and anxieties by creating possible solutions to these. I come up with plans in order to at least ease the feeling. This pandemic became also a time to reconnect with old friends, hence also helped me to cope up.

I believe it is natural to feel fear and anxiety most especially during these times of uncertainty.

The most important thing now is to have someone to talk to, may it be family, friends, or anyone whom you can share your feelings. It is also important to become mentally aware of yourself. Check yourself from time to time.

On and Off Switch

When I first heard about CoViD-19, my initial reaction was, ‘it’s just flu’.
Flu is a regular sickness we deal with throughout the year, especially during wintertime. Hence, I had no concern nor worries. However, when I heard about the sudden spike in deaths and cases related to CoViD around the world, I was alarmed. I was very anxious, scared & stressed.

I was that person who read multiple news articles, scientific articles, and even charity organizations’ mission to help those that are greatly affected by the current situation. My Instagram stories were full of CoViD-19 related posts, highlighting health guidelines.

Eventually, I figured that as much as keeping up to date with the news is great for your knowledge & self-awareness to your surroundings, it can be toxic to your mental health.

Refocus from CoViD-19

Upon my realization, I then avoided listening to & reading the news. I refused to participate nor contribute to any type of conversation about it. Instead, I focused on other things such as learning new skills (bread making for me) and experimenting on different types of pasta dishes. I started working out following different workout challenges I find on Youtube (Hi to fellow Chloe Ting fangirls). Fortunately, I am also WFH so my life was and still is quite busy. Once I established a routine and kept myself busy, I felt better.

Most of my relatives and family friends who are in health care were infected by the virus but they all went through it smoothly and are now perfectly well. As I constantly received messages about this, it suddenly became a ‘norm’ to me for people to get infected by this virus. I trusted the health care system and just had faith and hoped that everything would turn out okay in the end. Ironically enough, this calmed my worries and anxieties, too.

I believe that I have an, ‘on and off switch’ when it comes to my feelings and emotions.

When I know I have no control over a situation, I stop investing my feelings, emotions, and even time towards it. I let go and let life be. This switch definitely kept me sane.

Fast forward to now, restrictions have been reduced and life is slowly getting back to what it used to be like, at least for most people. Fortunately, my family and I are well aware of the situation and adapted quickly, following health protocols. Therefore, we survived without getting sick.

I have come to realize a lot of things during this time.

Life is SHORT.

We must live in the moment and take our time as we move into the future. Our mental health is as vital as our physical and emotional health. We must appreciate the life around us, nature, our family members, our pets, etc. We should appreciate and value the freedom to have direct contact with anyone, to walk into a grocery store without queuing outside first, to dine into our favorite restaurants, to value every chance we have to see and visit friends and family and to celebrate and bury our dead as they lay before us.

I learned to be more understanding and sensitive to others, to pay more attention to my loved ones, and how to spread love and positivity more. Most importantly, I am grateful to have a home and a means to buy food and medicines. This was a humbling experience and taught me to help those who are in need more.

Sadness and Fear

This pandemic made me realize a lot of things.

First, it has been the hardest four months that I lived by myself. Not every one of us is lucky enough to be with our family during these times. No available public transportation inhibits me to visit my loved ones. Second, this pandemic has made me realize that time is gold. Missing your loved ones makes you think and reminisce about the times when you’re with them. Lastly, this pandemic has shown the true identity of the people around us. Some showed kindness and empathy, while others the opposite. This pandemic also shows how our government is very messed up.

These realizations make me a better person for my family and friends since I am now more appreciative of my time with them. I have also learned more about myself as I now prefer to be surrounded by people who have the same principles as mine. Hopefully, this pandemic has taught everyone to make better decision-making for the coming election.

Thank you for reading this post! I hope you found this helpful with whatever thoughts you currently have. Feel free to share it! By the way, here are other blog posts you might like:

Feature Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash

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