QUARANTINE + THE SIMPLE THINGS

A lot of people are going into shock now that they have to stay home full time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the CDC the next two weeks are going to be the hardest yet, and simple outings like going to the grocery store have been prohibited unless urgent.

I've officially gotten my own pair of mask and gloves.

Oh, and it looks like I can finally crack into those canned beans and bags of rice I bought two weeks ago when this all started.

I know that this is scary, that people are sick, and that all of this proverbial shit is finally hitting the fan... But I can't help but look on the positive side of all of this.

I think one of the nicest things about quarantine is that I finally have time to do the yoga, crack into books that my family got me TWO CHRISTMASES AGO, paint, write, draw, send letters to my loved ones, and just do things that I previously "never had time to do".

Why? Because I was so focused on going to work, gym, going out, socializing, being a good friend, daughter, partner, and then managing my day to day things; cleaning my house and doing laundry on top of it all.

I was like a little bee buzzing about in a busy hive.

We all were, weren't we?

But now, now I finally have ample time to reconnect with the little things.

The little things that make me, Me. And happy to be myself, with myself.

And yes, I am scared. I'm scared of contracting COVID-19, of getting sick, of potentially spreading it to my loved ones... But I find that within my house, I am in complete control. I have bleached all of the flat surfaces, mopped my floors, cleaned my doorknobs, and have been very specific about the people who are entering my house. So in these senses, I feel that my quarantine environment is safe.

I am prepared for this and I am taking this seriously.

We all should.

But, again, I am trying to look on the positive side of this.

In the absence of all the cars, traffic, and human business that normally takes place, I've seen so much more wildlife.

Just in the few weeks that we've all been staying in, I've seen more peacocks, ducks, foxes, rabbits, and enjoyed hearing more birds singing all around me. This is just in my housing complex, not to mention the surrounding natural areas.

I live in Miami, so I can't imagine the abundance of wildlife in more rural areas.

Animals aren't the only thing I've been seeing outside.

I've also seen more people.

In Florida, outdoor exercise is allowed as an "essential activity". Therefore, families , couples, individuals, are all out and about. Riding their bikes, roller blading, scootering, skateboarding, or even just running and walking.

It reminds me of the tiny small town I grew up in... Of when life was so quiet and sleepy, that I used to just cruise around on my bike to "find something to do," or to "get out of the house".

When times were simpler.

What am I doing differently in quarantine?

Apart from staying home, and bleaching every part of my home like previously mentioned... I've taken up riding my bike everywhere.

I borrowed and old blue bike from my grandpa, pumped the tires up with air, adjusted the handle bars, and even greased up my chains and gears a little bit.

Since my need to travel throughout the city has been reduced, I don't really have to go anywhere far. Let's be honest. I go to my family's house, the grocery store, and then home.

All of these places just so happen to be within a 6 mile radius, which is about a 25-30 minute bike ride, no hills.

Why not take the bike?

I'm not in a rush, I don't use gas, get exercise, enjoy the beautiful South Florida weather, all while abiding to my quarantine regulations.

I'm killing like 6 birds with one stone here.

And the nicest thing of all is, I'm probably going to keep riding my bike once all of this is over.

I think that's the coolest thing about this quarantine...

Taking time to detach from "business as usual", and reconnecting with the simple things that are truly the most important.

Who we are.

What we stand for.

What keeps us warm at night when we must be alone.

I would like to bring all of these new habits that I've cultivated - from just taking a few steps back - with me once quarantine is over. I want to keep riding my bike, doing yoga, reading my books, obsessively cleaning my house, and taking time to be alone.

I've also realized that I don't want to commute anymore.

I am doing my damnedest to try and figure out how to support myself financially from home, which would open up nearly endless possibilities for me and the life I want to live.

I hope you have all been focusing on these things too...

Staying home, staying safe, cleaning your house, protecting yourself and your loved ones...

Maybe even picking up hobbies you've left behind, learn to play guitar, reopen books you've never finished, dust off those old rollerblades you left in the closet two summers ago, reconnect with your family, yourself, and how much you love vanilla bath bombs or essential oils.

I obviously hope you've been wearing gloves and using hand sanitizer... but I also hope that you've been keeping in mind the life you want to lead once all of this has passed.

It almost feels like our duty at this point... to reassess where we are and what we need. To see where we can pick up the slack, and how we want to move forward.

That's all we can do right?

Move forward.