Testing, Testing…Is This Thing On?

For the beginning of my blog post, I am going to preach because my family and pets are very tired of hearing about my opinions. I apologize in advance if I offend any readers. Though I also like to think that if you are offended by anything I am about to say, then you are also in denial about the literal pandemic happening outside our very homes.

Whereas the second part of the blog will consist of explaining my life during this momentous occurrence. From yoga to binge watching, you will get to read about my eventful life at home.

……………………………………………………………………………

Part One: The Preach

The Stay at Home order is not a concept that I disagree with. I do strongly believe that as a society we tend to follow rules better when they are put into legislation.

Yes, I am speaking to all of my other college peers who (1) not only decided to travel, but (2) also decided to not self-quarantine when strongly suggested by health professionals. I personally may of returned home for spring break (I am BIG broke) so those of you who traveled are probably about to jump out of your seats with defenses against my opinion, but hear me out.

I have friends that traveled, I have friends that didn’t. I have friends that even had a full trip booked, paid for and ready to go for Bimini–but decided not to go. I do not think that people who saved up money to treat themselves for a week should be punished for going. Honestly, I encouraged my friends to go on their pre-planned trips. I was more adamant on making sure they just thought of the logistics of flying back home if unexpected closures occurred where they were going. Though the actions I cannot understand nor quite respect from those who traveled were the individuals who decided not self-quarantine, or maybe ended self-quarantine early because it was ‘too hard’.

Uh yes, it absolutely sucks to self-quarantine. But don’t worry, now all of us get to suffer together right?

Wrong. Yeah we all have to suffer, but what about the risk you were putting everyone else in just because self-quarantining was challenging. I can tell you something much more challenging; controlling a single virus on a worldly level. Viruses are not something that are easy to get rid of. They are undetected to the naked eye, able to mutate, hard to control and sometimes unable to cure.

WoW. As I type this I can sense myself becoming more and more enraged, ~possibly~ even bitter. But I am just in awe of how innately self-oriented we are as a society. I know this includes myself, but one thing that I have been actively trying to practice is community preservation rather than self preservation. And it is a mindset that I believe all Americans need to be actively conscientious of. Speaking to the too-popular-to-quarantine-spring-breakers to the I-need-50-rolls-of-toilet-paper-when-I-poop individuals. So rather than continue to preach for several more paragraphs, here is some of my advice and/or opinions in an organized list (I love lists):

• Think of those that are unable to normally fight off COVID-19 compared to a healthy individual with no underlying medical complications, whether a grandparent or adult or child or even newborn.
• Stay calm and only buy supplies that are realistic to your needs.
• Remain kind to both those familiar to you and those who are not. Everyone is scared, everyone is anxious.

……………………………………………………………………………

Part Two: What I’m Up To

A large focus of what the Stay at Home order has been for me is mental health. I tend to slip into negative thinking loops when living at home again, feeling as if I have regressed on my progress of adult-ing. I believe that this is a common feeling among individuals my age and I hope that you know you’re not alone. Mental health is just as important as physical health and arguably drives personal physical wellbeing. As an advocate of both since I’ve started high school, I decided to get into yoga when gyms across Mecklenburg County began to close.

I dabbled into a few vinyasa hot yoga classes when I was about sixteen, but stopped going because I enjoyed by HIIT Training and weights better. Also, I am terribly inflexible. But the very place I used to take hot yoga at sent Zoom links for live at-home classes, I decided to get back into it. I found that it was challenging but also gave me great gratitude for my body’s abilities. I have learned that it is very important to listen to your body, but also mentally push yourself over challenges you may face–physically in the moment or something you’re mentally holding onto.

Let me tell you though, I have been so awful about sleeping in and getting into a good daily regiment. My sleeping in particularly can be anywhere from 10am to 1pm and it kills my day. These are typically the days that I tend to skip out on yoga and be unmotivated…

It is really hard to be motivated during this time, when your days sort of blend together and you tend to struggle to find purpose in your actions. But I always like to remind myself that the stronger I remain mentally, the healthier those who are at risk remain. So even when I may be unmotivated to physically tax myself or work my brain with assignments, I tend to dip into my creative side. I make sure that on these days I decide to express myself through painting or drawing. The other day my sisters and I even sad outside on the porch paining and listening to music.

So overall, it has been hard for me even if it doesn’t particularly affect my work ethic all the time. Though I encourage myself and others around me to make sure that you are taking care of yourself in positive, maybe even new, ways and practices. Take advantage of the extra self-care time we are given and remain active both mentally and physically. In the long run, we will save lives. We will create a conscientious and kind world for those after us, because we will survive through a historic pandemic.