Summary:

The author reflects on how COVID-19 has affected their life, highlighting the realization of taking simple things for granted, facing various challenges such as restricted movement and social isolation, and adapting to self-isolation. They also mention finding joy and adapting to the new circumstances by creating healthy habits and an indoor gym. The author sees COVID-19 as a significant life event that has made them resilient and curious about the future.

Takeaways:

🌟 Don't take the simplest things in life for granted and appreciate them.

🌟 Prepare to face multiple challenges during difficult times, such as restricted movement and lifestyle changes.

🌟 Maintain social connections and adapt to new ways of connecting with friends and family.

🌟 Overcome self-isolation by finding joy in small things and creating healthy habits.

🌟 Stay active and create an indoor gym or exercise routine at home.

🌟 See COVID-19 as a significant life event that can make you more resilient and adaptable to future changes.

How COVID-19 Impacted Me

Taking Things for Granted

The first thing that comes to my mind of how COVID-19 affected me is that I've taken the simplest things in life for granted. For instance, going outside when the weather is perfect or running a quick errand or even being social. So, for me not being able to do "normal" things has been a shock and it's been a hard curve to adjust to.

Facing Challenges

I've also had to face multiple challenges such as restricted movement, social isolation, lifestyle changes, extreme boredom, and a lack of clarity for my future. I am part of a large family where we would hold gatherings every two weeks to celebrate the little things in life, spending time seeing friends, family, and close ones. My boisterous family loves to socialize as we are very close since my parents came to Canada as refugees fleeing civil war. Being unable to see my family like I have taken for granted really impacted me and drove a wedge through my family closeness.

Overcoming Self-Isolation

I also had to overcome self-isolation. I have younger and older people living with me and when a few of them caught the virus, I had to self-isolate for 14 days at home. It was a dreadful experience and I felt like I was on house arrest. My lifestyle changes were the most difficult part of the pandemic that I needed to get used to. However, it wasn't all doom and gloom. I learned to adapt and find joy in the small things. With online school, I took advantage of that small slot of time that I had and woke up earlier, ate a nutritious breakfast, read a book called The Art of War (I highly recommend it), meditated, and then started online school on Zoom.

Finding Joy in the Small Things

The good came with the bad. I adapted to use my time effectively and learn healthy habits while staying at home. Boredom had also kicked in quite a bit, but I had to learn to create myself an indoor gym in my basement to do exercises.

A Life Event to Remember

COVID-19 was a life event, and I will always remember it. I am curious to see how it will play out in the future. COVID-19 made me resilient, and I hope to adapt to the world's "new normal."