Being in Isolation Made Me Appreciate the Mundane, Little Things - Guest Post Sunday

Aboard the point-to-point "p2p" Bus, Kawit

It has almost been three months since the outbreak of the disease. Who would have thought that in the span of this short amount of time, thousands of lives were already claimed globally? And over millions whose lives are still at stake? While we are physically stuck at home, the mind cannot help but wander. 

During these times, everyone is online trying to be socially connected. I have read many articles and write-ups surrounding this pandemic, many of which talks about mental health. It would say: “X number of signs you are experiencing anxiety” and surprisingly, I would tick most, if not all boxes. All this while, I thought I was just lazy and unproductive. I never knew I was experiencing something deeper—that this pandemic is digging deeper within me and without me even realizing it. 

It’s amusing how during the start of the quarantine, my emotions were on the highs. Just like everyone else, I thought I deserved the break—a break from the tiring routines of everyday, and finally having that time you have always wanted for yourself. As being in isolation took longer than how everyone expected, I noticed how my moods went on an emotional roller coaster each passing day. 

And this is when I realized that, as cliché as it may sound, no man is an island. Even for an introvert like me. Part of being in law school is complaining about the studying you have to do and wanting to quit, even when you don’t actually mean it. Who would have thought I would be missing those early 7am coffees with groggy eyes, while trying to rush through the pages in the hopes that you make it through that one class? I certainly did not expect that. Life used to be late night well-deserved dinners after that exhausting 7-9PM class, and bus rides home on a quiet Saturday afternoon, just sitting there in that window seat for an hour or so - listening to my “p2p” Spotify playlist. 

What is even scarier is that we don’t know when this would end. It’s like passing through a dark tunnel and the light is nowhere to be seen. Will this truly be the “new normal”? The thought of it scares the hell out of me, because that would mean not being able to do the mundane things we used to hate in the same way we used to before, or at least for a very long time. No more dining out, no more movie nights, no more parties. None of those what we call “sanity breaks.” 

As what this little guest entry of mine says from the beginning, being in isolation made me appreciate the mundane things. Just like the the rest of the world, everyone is lost and nothing but hoping of finding that light to see that this would all end eventually. And when this is over, I hope everyone would see the world in a different perspective: that it is in fact true that it’s the little things that matter; that it’s worth it to stop and smell the roses. And most importantly, if you are reading this, well, you are just lucky to be alive.

C. Q. Viniegra

General Trias, Cavite

Caren is on her way to her last year at Law School by the end of the year. A kind heart, she grew up to be a strong woman with a passionate heart towards social change in this modern society that she is part of.

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