“All over the world, people are being quarantined and are being compelled to practice social distancing. We are trying desperately to remain sane in a world that seems bordering on the insane. So, the time is just right for us to ponder, reflect, meditate, and discover the world within our own minds.” – Avijeet Das, Poet and a writer from New Delhi, India
We are living in unprecedented times across America and throughout the global hemisphere. People from all walks of life, of all ages, are being quarantined in order to protect themselves, and those around them, from spreading a fast-moving virus few took seriously at the start.
As society remains quarantined either by choice or governmental mandate for an indefinite period of time, we’re forced to accept an unexpected duration of solitude.
For many of us, we spend very little time disengaged from the outside world, and the reality of being alone with our thoughts and our feelings can be frightening for some.
While few will look upon this time of solitude as beneficial, it can in fact be a time of personal reflection and connection, not only with ourselves but others.
I’m in no way trying to downplay the impact and dangers of the corona-virus, but sometimes circumstances such as we’re experiencing are necessary to help us all refocus on the journey.
So, take this time to put down your phone, turn off the television, put away your laptops and tablets and just be in the moment.
Being quarantined provides you the perfect opportunity to simply slow down and enjoy those individuals you don’t often see during a 40-hour work-week.
There are no playdates, afterschool activities or birthday parties to transport to and from.
There’s no overtime or wasted time sitting in traffic during the morning and evening commutes or traveling on business.
There’s no rushing in and out of your house armed with endless to-do-lists and growing anxieties.
There’s just this one moment to remind yourself how fragile life truly is, how often we waste too much time on the unimportant and how rarely we stop to tell someone how invaluable they are in our lives.
While it’s easy to view being quarantined as nothing more than an inconvenience, use this time of solitude wisely and chances are you’ll discover how often we take our blessings for granted.
