Thoughts on Social Isolation
The world is ravaged by news on COVID 19 and as Australia closed its borders to try containing the spread of the disease, us inside tried our best to cope up with it. I am aware that majority of my followers knew the nature of my work.If I had chosen a job in the acute setting, I would have been one of those people who were paranoid enough to think that anyone they met is a potential carrier. Not that I am taking that against them. The reported cases every day is just too alarming to be ignored. The news that as of now, no cure/vaccine had been officially found is not very comforting at all. As an ordinary person, I weighed all of these and came up with a simple solution: to temporarily isolate myself and see how things develop.
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When the toilet paper craze started (more on that on my next posts) I did started discreetly stocking on things that I needed. Not by the dozen but by buying extra pack of this and that or, simply buying a bigger size in case I might not be able to get them in the next fortnight. I bought an extra pack of rice, an extra pack of sanitary pads, a big container of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, deodorant, cooking oil, soy sauce- anything that I might need in the next few weeks. I never plan or intend to hoard because I know that somewhere, an elderly person or a person with disability or, a family out there might not have anything to use. In fact, if I will be confronted with a situation where I get to meet an elderly person doing his shopping and, I have the last piece of toilet paper, I will gladly give it to that person. He deserve it better than I do.
I only work part time nearby which makes things easier and more convenient to me. I start my day by learning new things in the net, doing crafts, reading and watching my favourite Netflix shows. As it turned out, the thought of watching people having a good time out doors- walking, running, having picnics, somewhat triggered something in me that had made me restless in the past few days. I feel upset and greatly bored that I have to keep in touch with everyone through phone calls, text messages and rely on social media messaging. I know that I am getting irrational but, at my best moment, I have to make sure that I do my part in this.
As of now, I am getting ambivalent on my decision to limit my exposure to other people. This is the second Sunday that I have not attended mass. I feel that a part of me is incomplete for not doing that. I will repeat myself again: I am bored. I just want to go out of the house- go to the mall and see what's on sale. But, I can't until further notices.
There is no official instruction to stay at home from the government yet- as far as I know but, I voluntarily made that decision. Yes. Its really weird for me to do that but in the end, I just want to be safe. I will probably thank me someday. Who knows? As of now, I feel healthy though bored. I feel safe though I feel that I am gaining weight. I feel happy that I get to wake up today without worrying if the person I was talking to or beside me on the queue looks sick or about to get sick.