Hi everyone,
How is your quarantine going? Let’s talk about one specific aspect of this suddenly-imposed-on-us: how things that we thought were so important and we could not live without went out of our lives.
A small change for me is cappuccino. I am not a huge coffee person. But I would want to have cappuccino every three or four days. When I wanted it, I had to have it.
Surprise. I did not have cappuccino in weeks and yet I have not craved for it yet.
I also thought I had to go out almost every day, even if a little bit. I thought I had to go out when I wanted to do it. I would stay home for a whole day one or twice a week but that was it. Now, I have been home weeks and I am not complaining.
What does this show us? It shows us that most things we base our lives on is not vital. And we are living our lives with temporary ideals and we get stuck with fleeting patterns. How much time did my obsession with going out every day cost me? A lot. Of course, we will go out at times; we need the sun. But if we say we can’t live without it, then we base our life on a false premise. It makes us dependent.
This realization now shows me that I want to search for more stable things. One thing is myself. I can lose everything but I will always with me. So, I am trying to focus on myself. I want to understand my place in this universe. Meditation, yoga or just aimlessly resting. I hope to find my place beyond the fleeting patterns and obsessions. Let’s see where this will take me.
Have you been noticing similar things? What did you think you could not live without but it turns out you can? What did this realization show you? Let’s discuss.
I noticed I should have appreciated being able to hang out with my friends! Once this is over, I want to have a party every day lol! Good post 🙂
Oh I wish my friends would’ve appreciated this more!! 😆 This gives me hope!
Same!:)
I have to agree. This time has taught me to never ever take the small things in life for granted especially the time spent with family and friends.
Exactly!
Reblogged this on To Write or not to Write and What to Write.
We can’t live without clean water, food, oxygen and shelter. We may struggle to live without the NHS, carers, PPE, covid tests and ventilators. We can’t live without all the people involved in providing these vital things. Anything else is a bonus.
I took the lockdown opportunity to give up alcohol and caffeine to improve my health. I’m still smoking which is the worst thing I can be doing with a respiratory virus that will keep coming back in waves. So giving up tobacco is my plan once I’ve run out. It’ll be hard after 38 years of puffing but I’ll have to do it.
What nice goals you have! This quarantine seems to be a great motivation for you to make all these changes!
Cold turkey. I made up my mind, after years of egging back and forth, I decided in a heartbeat to change my life and walked away from it. I applaud your steps. Keep going!
That is a great one!
Pfft. I lasted 42 hours.
It was easy in that I chose to change because I fell in love with someone who offered healthy alternatives. I lived through a lot of 42 hours first though!
It is hard initially until it becomes a habit, right?
Sometimes decisions become a turning point, deliberately chosen. No looking back. For me it was like choosing to live again. I’m sorry it took another’s love to do that, I should’ve loved myself enough to decide this. We say we want, then we do not want it enough. But I’m just saying it’s not easy, but it is a decision. Let no one condemn you for who they judge you to be. We judge ourselves. (Fingers pointing right back at me) best wishes to you!
Good points! Only when we have enough understanding can we make these changes. Best wishes to you too!
That is success!
Yes. I had to have chocolate every day but now that it’s not so easy to nip to a shop, I haven’t had any.
Nice!
This phase has taught us how a dead organism can shut doors of living beings which claims to conquer earth, waters and sky and make us feel panicky.
Nice way of looking at this! So true!
Hi! Loved this post. Here is what the lockdown taught me – https://thelifestyleleader.wordpress.com/2020/04/12/how-the-lockdown-affected-my-acne-problem/
I will read it!
I’ve realized just how much of a true homebody I am. I’ve always known it, but I see just how happy I am to be here with my family. I am very fortunate to have them, as well as a very comfortable house with lots of books, movies, and games. Stay safe, everyone.🕊
I came to the same realization as well! Quarantine seems to be doing good to you!
Silver lining! 😎
Yes!
I tend to stay at home and separate and so thought this would be easy. But the truth is, I do go out. More than I apparently realized and I need it more than I thought. Ditto to friends and family. Truly alone is a hard thing. I’m grateful for the people who regularly annoy me.
That is the conflict. When we are with people, we get annoyed by them. When they are away, we miss them. I am glad you are grateful for them!
I thought I had to do a great many things before this pandemic. Now, I’m seeing to the essence of things because I have the time to do so. Seeing the essence of things, getting past all the superficial nonsense that clouds the mind and skews judgment has allowed me to see what is important to me and what is not.
Exactly! I think this realization has the power to transform our lives!
We have been somewhat home bound for years due to my husband’s ailing health, so there have not been huge adjustments. However, I do work part-time at the local library and initially I wondered how I would fill those hours when I was normally at work. While I miss my work family and our patrons, I have adjusted rather easily. Having the internet helps a lot. Being able to connect with family & friends via social media helps too. I miss seeing and visiting with my children – all adults now and living not too far from us. I, too, am finding solace in prayer and meditation. As you rightly point out so many things are so unimportant. I think this whole situation if teaching us what is of value in life and it is not things.
Well-said! These are very important and delightful realizations!
This is so relatable. Even I thought I could never sit at home all day and have to go out, but here I am not doing it. Sometimes we revolve our lives around small things that actually don’t make much of a difference. This is beautifully written!
Yeah! At least we realize it now!
Yes. I am learning so much about self and others during this event. Things I might not have learned about what I like, need, want, and and you posted, the things that I found I don’t actually need. Although I am sad over what happened I have some joy that I can learn and grow from a bittersweet event.
Thanks for this thoughtful post.
The overall situation is bad, especially if you have been affected by it directly. But we will all learn something.
I guess we have appreciated where we live. We have been getting out to exercise or walk the dogs and as spring has now well and truly sprung, we have appreciated the area where we live. Also, it has been nice to slow down as we live such busy lives having to stay in and only go out for essentials it has been nice to slow it down and relax more.
Sounds like nice changes! Quarantine is doing goods after all!
A humbling😌 time-out. Be blessed💛
Stay blessed!
Amazing! This phase of our life would be very interesting. There are things I am learning that I could live without is beyond. All we need is ourselves at the end 🙂
Yes!
I am an introvert and homebody. I’ve worked part-time at a grocery store for the past 9 months. Before that I was mostly homebound due to back surgeries and recovery, for 2 years. I love my time at home with my husband and puppy, I love my time painting, blogging, and web-surfing. I am not missing the out and about.
Good for you! You are one of the lucky people in this adaptation!
I’ve realised that I’m too busy in my normal life. I try to cram too many things in. I have been enjoying a slower pace of life. I know that things will change again when I go back to work so I will have to try to be better to myself, not plan too much and make time for the things I enjoy – writing, reading and playing guitar 🙂
Same! And it feels so nice!
I just did a similar post 🙂 this downtime has done me the world of good. I’ve learnt how much better my mental health is when life is simpler and I dont let external stressors bother me.
Exactly! Rushing around seems to be a main factor in mental health issues.
I realized I don’t have to leave the house as often as I once thought I did and that I don’t crave Starbucks and outside food as much. I appreciate cooking at home
What nice changes!
Good topic. I think my lessening need for the daily drug of sports wins and losses has been the biggest change I have noticed.
Good one!
Well, if you truly are craving for a cup of cappuccino, and really need a fix… you’d probably end up learning how to make one yourself!
Yes! I haven’t craved for it yet, but I will have to make it if I do:)
I’ve been blogging daily since the first day of quarantine! =)
Nice! How do you like it so far?
I love it. And appreciate the time I have now to look inward instead of outward. =)
Definitely need to be more disciplined and not opening 10 tabs a time though.. Hahaha.
How is your quarantine doing? And what do you spend your time on?
Good to hear that! Mine is a lot of studying, which is making the time I spent on the blog less:(
Ahh… It’s never about the quantity, but the quality, yea? =)
Yeap! That is the way to go!
There’s really nothing that I used to do that I miss doing because basically, I’m always home.
it’s always from house and back to work for me. But I have definitely realized the importance of being with the people you love and creating me time.
Myself and my best friend also grew our bond over the cause of the quarantine.
The realization of the importance of social life has been a major one for you then!
Beautiful post…this really resonated deeply with me and same as you I don’t feel a craving for proper coffee, Indian takeaways is a different story tho! hehe
Is there a chance you can make them at home?
Hi Betul, not in the same way as a really good Indian chef! But it’s a minor thing really, I have no reason to moan, I am very lucky to be safe and healthy and not have corona 😊
That is a good thing to be grateful for!
Yes!!! I have felt the same pull to a deeper self! I feel like I’ve been running from it most of the time. But it’s amazing what I see when I quiet myself. I’m so glad to know I’m not alone! 💚
I am in this the same way!
Great read, thanks for sharing this post.
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about what you are discovering you can live without. I’ve had similar thoughts when taking up Intermittant Fasting (“Oh, I don’t actually have to run out and get fast food or oreos even Thai food” – whatever I think I’m craving.) I don’t actually have to eat at this time and it feels good. Dedicating longer times to meditation or at least to silence is also bringing about similar realizations about not needing all kinds of noise- tv, even internet- all kinds of distractions. Great noticing. 🙂
These are all great changes! We are making peace with silence! Let’s keep going!
Indeed quarantine days taught us many aspects of life we never explored before…
Yes!
Hi Betul, my thoughts about this echo in my recently posted Blog “Solitude of Social Distancing”, wherein I have quoted Pablo Neruda:
“There is no insurmountable solitude. All paths lead to the same goal: to convey to others what we are. And we must pass through solitude and difficulty, isolation and silence in order to reach forth to the enchanted place where we can dance our clumsy dance and sing our sorrowful song — but in this dance or in this song there are fulfilled the most ancient rites of our conscience in the awareness of being human and of believing in a common destiny…
Our original guiding stars are struggle and hope. But there is no such thing as a lone struggle, no such thing as a lone hope. In every human being are combined the most distant epochs, passivity, mistakes, sufferings, the pressing urgencies of our own time, the pace of history.”
What a nice description! I will check your post!
PS: I just checked your post and remembered I did read it a few days ago! What a nice post!
Hmm… thought provoking post!
So, as I pondered over your question, I realized that I am actually content….. is that weird?
I feel very blessed and grateful for the little things….. the opportunity to sleep in just a little longer, because I don’t have to commute for 2 hours one way, no tolls, the ability and opportunity to telework and still get paid, peace etc, etc, etc.
Somehow, I feel like this quarantine has placed a spotlight on how blessed I really am. I feel like the hustle and bustle of everyday life somehow, displaced my perspective.
That being said, I am still looking forward to some normalcy….even though I’m positive that the word will have a new meaning when this is all over…..
Emma
I relate to your comment a lot! I think the quarantine also made me notice small things in my life that I took for granted. It made me realize how many blessings I regularly have and ignore. It is a great feeling!
It certainly is…the feeling of gratitude… Stay safe my friend 🙏🏽😊
You too!
Thank you 💕
Quarantine has revealed to me how much I rely on routine. With the initial shock of quarantine, routine went out the window. I found my self idle, wringing my hands with too many projects in front of me. So much open space left me paralyzed. Little by little I returned to my habits and made it a productive time.
Obviously on the opposite end of the theme of your post but I enjoyed the reflection. Thanks!
If you like routines, then that is normal! My life before quarantine was very similar to the quarantine, so I did not have much of a shock! But we are both meeting at the same point these days, it seems!
Without the noise of day to day life to drown it out and distract, solitude allows us to see and hear what’s really inside us. For some people this will lead to positive self awareness, for some it will bring up issues that need to be worked on. Some people will like what they find, some will hate it, but most will find a little of both.
And some few will find nothing at all.
For people who find something, anything, that finding will lead to a greater good!
I will never take these things for granted again: whitewater canoeing, hugging (this aspect has been really hard); seemingly insignificance daily contact with people, and seeing people whenever I wanted. It also helped me remember my love of fitness and writing.
It also taught me how valuable human contact is! Also I am with you on the fitness point!
It’s been a good reset for me in a lot of ways. It’s challenging at times, but it’s temporary. That’s what I keep reminding myself.
Same! Sometimes, I get somewhat angry, or rather sad, that I can’t see people. But that is just for a while, so hopefully I will see them later.
It’s been really hard not being able to see my parents
Yeah. I don’t know if I can travel to my home country this summer. I really hope I can!
Oh that has to be tough. Where is that if you don’t mind me asking?
Here’s my blog link: https://akponderings.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/quarantine-day-1-3/
I am from Turkey but I have been in the US for the past 5 years.
I’ve been doing daily quarantine blogs on social media, and I’ve started to transfer them here. Would you like the link?
Yes, please!
What has this quarantine taught me? A few things. Not so much about myself, because I already knew I like my own company and can keep myself occupied if need be. I’ve learned that other people have shorter attention spans than I do, and need to be around other people, to the point where they skype at every opportunity (mainly with family, but I’m not a fan of sitting in front of a webcam, I’d rather see people in person). If anything, I miss actually spending time with family and friends face-to-face. Not being able to hug my kids is getting me down, too. I’m not a particularly touchy-feely person so this has surprised me. What’s bothered me most is not being able to see my 19 year-old daughter whenever I want, as she lives across town with her boyfriend.
People are different! I also always prefer in-person meetings but I am down for video calls now because they are the closest i can get to actual human contact. I hope we get to do that freely again soon!
People are definitely different! Some of my family members really like skyping; I hate it with a passion. But it’s become vital during quarantine, so I guess I have to put up with it. May things go back to normal soon, because even though I don’t mind staying at home and I am capable of occupying myself, I miss everybody! (and the camera adds 10lbs)
As you say, take this as a temporary situation and you just have to do this now because it is your best shot. It makes it easier to do it. And camera adds some lbs for sure:(
Very true. We actually think a little change in our lives would turn it upside down. I have seen my mother, going berserk when the lockdown was extended just yesterday, and I wondered that I too had been always lonely and going out for an evening walk was always so fascinating, or meeting friends at school. Now, everything is closed down and I think this quarantine isn’t as bad. I can do what I want to do. Some things that we think are important aren’t actually.
Yeah. That is such an interesting realization!
I enjoy my cats more and “we talk” more. Now if they could only speak in my language, I’m falling short on learning theirs!
Oh I know that feeling. At least they also understand some of your language.
I always thought I had to stay busy with the kids. We were always going to events , parties, movies, build a Bear, shopping etc. I’ve learned how little we need those expensive things in the long run. They are absolutely fun, but I realized it what a good time to cut back! We have been enjoying the toys at home and each other’s company. 🙂
What a nice realization!
Interesting point. I had to re-read your post. What did I think I could not live without but now can? Hmm….thought I could live not live without spending money on things like e.g. second hand clothes. Turns out I am now living without these things, i.e. going out and buying things I do not need. What your post has made me realise is that these are the things I CANNOT live without: food, sun, water, social interaction and ummmmm sleep! Thanks for this post.
True! We actually cannot live without those! We need to make a new priorities list now!
Hmm.. Good thing I hoarded four packs of coffee before the quarantine started! I really cannot live without coffee! lol. Honestly, I realized that life is really a precious gift. We need to protect ourselves in order to protect others.
Exactly! And that is a good thing to realize!
PS: I also got a big coffee pack:)
Great! Cheers to all coffee lovers!
I’m doing well living with me. Can’t live without me😀😀👍. I do like a cappuccino…☕️☕️. I do miss my family.. but am happy for technology.. now that’s one thing I feel gas helped me live through this really?..
Same. I am so thankful for technology!
You know what, I also can’t live without me:)
For myself energy drinks. Couldn’t go a day without having one, on the birth of my second daughter I went to see how long I would last without one. Then lockdown happened snd it made it much easier.
My addiction was linked to the fact my work office was near shops and it was almost like some conditioning I had to go in and buy one!
Now four months since I had my last drink.
Nice change! We were conditioned in many ways and the quarantine shattered them all.
When all is taken from me, all the senseless trappings we find our days entangled in, I am left with the most important thing—or, I should say Person—not self but the One who gives life perfect meaning, perfect clarity, perfect restfulness: Jesus Christ. Oh, the joy of knowing Him and His amazing, saving grace. THAT can never be taken away.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/php.1.21.ESV
Thank you for sharing!
I think a lot of things we do become habits and we do them just because it is a habit. After being in isolation so long, lots of habits will be broken. It will be interesting to see how this changes people.
Exactly! Such a nice scene to watch in my life and others’ lives!
Great post, I love it. I have never really been an outdoor person, you have to drag me out of the house on a leash unless you’re taking me shopping for my kids. So the lockdown hasn’t really affected me much but in so many ways it has brought me to face the reality of what life really is. And really man has no control over it. We may lie to ourselves that we are our own determinants of the course our lives take but the pandemic has proved that we are not. For me it’s a call to go back to the drawing board and that means seeking my creator.
That is a good conclusion! This was kind of a slap in the face in the way you said but we are learning a valuable lesson.
A good read 🙂 I made a blogpost about self-realizations about this crisis too. you can check it out as well! ♡ https://daveme.home.blog/2020/04/14/realizations-in-the-middle-of-a-crisis/
I can mostly adapt to all the changes… apart from the fact that government has imposed limitations on our freedom… often based on skewed information passed down by autocratic globalist decision makers … sorry, just my five cents worth…
What specific restrictions don’t you like?
Well, government dictating what I can do, as a healthy person. I will be arrested if I exceed two kilometre from home radius. I cannot even go for a drive in my own car that is deemed non-essential.
Now, that is impacting my liberty – so, is that not enough to wonder about? Who gets to decide what is essential and what is not? Some bureaucrat? As mentioned above, making decisions based on skewed statistics…
I cannot go to my favourite beach or country forest walk… as I say again, removing individual freedom is placing people in a police state. Quarantine the sick – not the healthy.
Well, the idea there is not to infect others, so it is not about you. You might be healthy but if you infect an old person or someone that is vulnerable, that person might suffer because of you. That was the whole reason I stopped going outside. I am healthy too but I don’t want to live with the idea that someone suffered because of me. I think individual freedom must be sacrificed if it is necessary for the community good. And this is not going to last forever anyway.
I learned that I can live without people constantly bombarding me with their opinions. I’m happy to have less people around me and just allow the calm to envelope me. ZK xo
The calmness that comes with that!
😁🙏
https://eliesereborba.wordpress.com/2020/04/21/quarentena-os-dignos-e-indignos-de-viver/