In case you have been living under a rock, America has been hit with the COVID-19 virus, also called the Coronavirus. Like many, I didn’t take it too seriously at first. It seemed like a lot of people were blowing it out of proportion. The news also seemed to focus on reporting how many people were infected instead of the thousands more who had recovered. My friends in the medical field also ensured me that the Flu was more deadly than this virus.
But as school closures became rampant and more people fell ill, I started to feel the gravity of the situation.
Now, I’m trying to do my part, staying indoors, donating to research organizations who are working to find a vaccine, and supporting small businesses through my purchases. And of course, I’m washing my hands for 20 seconds.
I admit it’s kind of scary. It’s scary not knowing how long this will last, it’s scary knowing that my parents who are in the 50-60 age range are at high risk. It’s also scary not really knowing what my life will look like after quarantine is over, since I was laid off my job because of it. I feel lucky to have a family who can support me during this time, but it still makes me uneasy.
As an introvert, the staying indoors part of this quarantine hasn’t been hard for me. I don’t get bored very easily and a lot of my hobbies actually involve me being on my own (ie. Writing, reading, blogging). I’m being extra mindful of my mental and physical health these days, trying to stay hydrated, journal, and go outside to exercise a few times a week.
This season has allowed me to focus on writing my novel and building up my author platform on social media. I started Camp Nanowrimo at the beginning of the month, and I’m happy to say that I’ve written most days. However, since I am jobless at the moment, it’s been easy to get lured by the pull of Netflix and Disney +, now available to me 24-hours a day. I have also spent a lot of my time making sure this blog looks pretty and presentable. At the time of writing this, I haven’t launched it yet but I’m very excited to.
My goals during quarantine are to have 50,000 words of my novel written by the end of April, launch my blog and secure some type of online job.
I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy. Remember to wash your hands!
~ Danielle
