This is a Hive initiative by @theycallmedan and in it i will discuss the impact of the Corona virus situation on my life and well-being.

Corona wasn't a subject i wanted to talk about. I looked into it only recently. Then, i saw how devastating it is and the massive negative impact it has had on the globe.

It is scary where the world is headed.

I stopped reading a long time ago, especially when it comes to news material. Where i come across news events passively, that is okay. I live in the Philippines, where news is a big deal. Almost everything constitutes news here yet i didn't hear anything substantial about Corona until less than a week ago.
I have been in isolation for a few months now but not because of Corona. I rarely step outside. These days, I would step outside only once for food and buy cooked food, for the whole day, 'one or two meals for day', which is what i can afford currently. For me, no worries! For my dad, i watch with deep hurt. No food!

I did notice that the few people on the streets wore masks and gloves. Well, even the food sellers had these things on but my mind was never really present. I just go there to be in and out.

Below, i will build further on my Corona virus story by trying to answer the following questions:

• What is your coronavirus story; how has it affected you? (your life, financially, health or otherwise)
• Have you or someone you know been effected with the coronavirus, how are they now, what was it like for them?
• Have you used this time to strengthen bonds with loved ones, do you feel you'll come out of this a better person?
• Do you have any photos/videos to share of where you're hunkering down? Show us how you spend your 24 hours as a prisoner xD
• If you haven't been practicing social distancing, why, & what's the world like out there by you?

1. What is your coronavirus story; how has it affected you? (your life, financially, health or otherwise)

I didn't have much of a story till recently. Less than a week or so ago, i checked stats for Corona and i found out how devastating it was. Learning of these things had an impact on me but 'on behalf of others. I know how large 'a thousand people' is, let alone almost '100,000' people and i thought of how much trauma these large expanse of people must have gone through, knowing they have contacted the disease, not to talk of the large expanse of people that lost their lives from it.

As for 'entertaining fears that i could catch the disease', i didn't worry much. If any such thing attacked me in these times, i will not even attempt to fight it. I haven't worn a glove or a mask.

The pandemic did affect me in other ways though. I have been going through serious financial issues before Corona became popular. I haven't been able to pay rent and utility bills as a result. During this period, i had gone into extra isolation too. I didn't want to ask help or turn to anyone.

Before Corona became full-blown in the Philippines resulting in a lock-down, i was looking for a house to relocate to, that has cheaper rent. I was approaching '3 months of owed rent'. So yes, the lock-down began to affect my ability to look for a new house. Suddenly, people renting their houses weren't open to visitors.

Altogether, my life has been the same. I would still handshake you heartily if you gave me a hand. I haven't worn a glove or mask. Where i feel ill or something, i would wear these items, to prevent others from contracting my illness.

2. Have you or someone you know been effected with the coronavirus, how are they now, what was it like for them?

I know someone who has contracted Corona and is recovering from it. His name is Dynast Amir, someone's whose YouTube journey i follow. Recently, he was offline for a period and only returned to making videos yesterday. In his latest livestream, he recounted his experience with contracting Corona virus and the process of recovery. He spoke of the pneumonia-like symptoms especially and highlighted how much more devastating impact the Corona virus would have on someone who has other health-related issues, considering how much the virus crippled him despite having been healthy and fit.

This was his recent livestream:

3. Have you used this time to strengthen bonds with loved ones, do you feel you'll come out of this a better person?

In these times, I didn't directly strengthen my bonds with loved ones but this situation did strengthen my capacity for self-sacrificing love. I will certainly come out a better person as a result.

In isolation, i am usually also in a state of conscious evolution, gaining further insight into the true state of the world. I did manage to learn a lot more in the past week and a whole lot. Special insight arrives to me in periods like this and not from further reading; just 'special insight'.

I got on Tiktok recently and found many tags related to Corona and tons of related videos and trending related tags. Tiktok hashtag like '#socialdistancing' has more than a billion entries.

While we can 'grow deep' from the whole Corona situation, we can 'grow shallow' too. Both scenarios constitute a measure of growth and while neither "growth" can be bashed, one 'growth' is "growth, growth".

I heard of Tiger King too in passing while seeing a recent interview between Mike Tyson and Fat Joe on YouTube and i decided to look at it briefly on Netflix. On it, i saw things similar to what i easily saw on Tiktok, gaining further insight into the true state of the world.

The world grows ever 'painted' even in these times.

May 'social-distancing' not linger on after Corona passes for 'the paint' increases. May cute puppies and virtual babies, not take over.

A painted world is an unreal world!

4. Do you have any photos/videos to share of where you're hunkering down? Show us how you spend your 24 hours as a prisoner xD

I have these 5 videos of me at home:

5. If you haven't been practicing social distancing, why, & what's the world like out there by you?

Among other reasons, 'i don't want to practice social distancing'.

When it comes to fellow humans, it is just not my style. Social distancing didn't just start. It isn't a Corona virus thing. This concept exists in many worlds and has existed way before Corona. In subtle measures, it exists. "My personal space" etc is not my thing! I am 'mere dust' altogether and that is me.

I have seen many things and when you have seen many things, many things become ordinary.

In my worlds, i don't even know what 'high five' is; i will connect with you in a warm reassuring handshake instead, even now.

Well, even if i contracted Corona, i will not attribute it to 'me not practicing social distancing'.

Altogether, according to me, when you are too in fear of something, these things find you.

So, i won't practice social distancing now and i hope it doesn't become a culture or practice that lingers after Corona goes, in a world that is already growing socially distant.

Your Boy Terry

@surpassinggoogle