Experiences and Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Pandemic

If I were to give three words to best describe my quarantine
journey from this pandemic, those would be LIFE, FAMILY, and
LOVE. During the massive lockdown, everything became limited,
and yes, boredom really strikes ALL THE TIME. Struggling at
home, most people around the world are in desperate straits, while
others are separated from their loved ones in their hours of need.
Unfortunately, this is the impact of COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 is really unexpected. Each day, the news about it
seem to be almost the same from the numbers of people infected, to
on how it continues to strain our health care system and resources.
Everyone’s in great danger. We must sacrifice our own freedom of
movement that have shut down whole economies just to flatten
the epidemic curve. The government implemented Community
Quarantine and even wearing a facemask is a must for the safety of
the citizens, which for me, it became a big deal because I like really
like to stroll around the city, and I still have my academics to finish
with.

At first with this quarantine, I’m so lazy. It made me really
lazy. I woke up late in the morning. I even got scolded by my parents
by doing nothing. I also watched television, surfing the internet and I
even could sleep all day long. I only kept in mind that I’m too lazy to do
something. But one thing I’ve realized during the quarantine, is why
don’t I try something new. People tend to think that this quarantine
is just like a prison, which in some cases is true, but if we dig for the
brighter side of it, we can actually do a lot during the quarantine.
That’s LIFE- finding the bright things in dark places.

I really didn’t know how to cook, but the quarantine gave me
the time to do so. At first, I really don’t know where to start. And then
I began with the basics, like frying eggs, hotdogs which literally made
me happy cause I felt like a pro. But little did I realized, that started
it all. Now I can cook various recipes, and yes, it made me proud
watching my parents enjoying them. And that’s when I also realized
the importance of FAMILY.

Being with my parents 24/7 inside the house, made me think
that they really are my stress relievers. I also realized that they are
now growing old, which made me sad at some point, thinking that I
might be too late for me to make them feel how much I love them. At
that moment, I said to myself that I’ll be cooking for them every day
for the rest of the quarantine.

The last thing that I’ve learned is on how LOVE can come out
in all forms, whether it may be a romantic love to another person,
love to your family and your community, or even love to yourself. And
whatever form of love that may be, I realized that it should always be
genuine and true, that it should always come from your heart, and not
in your mind.

They say, life is short. In this pandemic, I’ve realized that life
is really short. Life really matters. Many people die because of this
virus. Death is always possible. If we go outside, we don’t know what
danger could happen to us, and so considering everyone as a carrier
of the virus is indeed important for us to be cautious. We never know
who’s carrying the virus. So we must be vigilant and be aware at all
times. At times of existential danger, we instinctively desire to be close
to our family and friends, hold their hands and embrace them – but
now we are forbidden to do so, for every act of physical contact –
every expression of physical loving-kindness and compassion – could
bring illness and death.

So for now, as we still hold the life that God gave us, we
must always be grateful for it, for it is a golden chance for us to still
experience life and love, with our family.