April really is the cruellest month. People’s favourite shows end, groups disband, there’s that slushy stuff on the streets that melts and freezes depending on which incorrect footgear you’re wearing- and oh right! We’re all still stuck indoors, mostly barred from school and work. It’s boring, stifling and excruciatingly annoying at times, but we bear with it.
But you know what, screw that. I might be the most pessimistic person who just had to watch her favourite series end and Pride get cancelled but I am going to be cheerful for once and put a positive spin on things. Because, honestly, even the worst storm clouds- or in this case, those tornado funnel clouds, have their tarnished silver linings hidden somewhere, and I’m committed to digging them out. So if you ladies, gentlemen and everything in between or not there at all would buckle your seatbelts, I’ll make my case for how it ain’t all that bad and sometimes exceptional times can inspire exceptional things.
Starting from the obvious tends to be a good place, so I would like to point out how being indoors gives you time for that eternally precious self-care and self-reflection. A lot (and I mean a lot) of people have already addressed this, but I’m about to add my own thread to this throw rug of self-care with my customary disregard for social finesse. So, let’s talk mental health.
As committed to self-denial as I am, I was forced to come to the conclusion that after being trapped inside my student flat cage for almost a year, I couldn’t run from myself any longer. There was nothing to distract myself with to the same degree as before, so it was time to finally address the issue that was my existence. I didn’t like it, I didn’t like myself, I just wanted to do something, anything. So, with nothing to do and nowhere to go, I finally, finally committed myself to hobbies that I’ve been telling myself I’ll start for the past eight years. I got a guitar, I started learning to draw again, I stumbled back into longer writing projects and singing, things that I’d been able to shelve away under the pretext of not having enough time. And it worked.
It wasn’t just hobbies for me, I also found that I finally had the time and space for other, small things I’ve been putting off because the time has never felt right. I cut my hair, I went on medication, I started organising my days more meticulously. Being able to just turn off my computer instead of having to make the hour-long trip back home gave me a greater sense of control over both my life and my studies, and so far, it’s actually been pretty nice. However, I’m aware that it depends very much on the person whether this actually works. Some might crave the personal interaction from on-campus lectures or find it hard to focus when staring at a screen, but not everyone. Sometimes it’s more comfortable to watch lectures from a distance with no feeling of external pressure.
Not everyone is having a bad time, either. We can also turn our attention to the less human side of our daily existence. My dog, for one, is over the moon at being able to spend all day with people. No one’s going to school or work and he gets all of the attention he could ever ask for. A lot of pet owners are now free to spend time with their pets and don’t have to face that feeling of guilt every morning when leaving for work, and I for one plan on making the most of this situation with my dog. At least when I disregard the abundance of dog hair infiltrating every single aspect of my physical existence.
The highest authority in my adult life (my mother) has had to work from home for a solid year now, and my exceedingly scientific investigation revealed that she, too, has enjoyed having more time to do things she actually wants to do. Just an hour or two can make a huge difference, as insignificant as it sounds. That time spent on the bus or in the car can instead become a nice, long walk, reading a book or watching a movie. It gives you extra time to unwind in your comfort zone instead of trudging through traffic or waiting for the bus.
There’s also been an increase in contemplation and critical thinking, for both myself and people I know. Thoughts like Do I really need to go there? Do I really need to do this? Do I genuinely need this? become a lot more common when going to places is no longer a given and the decision to venture outdoors takes actual deliberation. The same applies for spending money as well. The situation is, without a doubt, unfair and difficult for people who cannot work in these circumstances, but we’ve all become more cautious with how we use our money. When everything is hidden behind a wall of limitations and concerns, empty decisions become a commodity we can no longer afford.
So, yeah. I suppose my rambling can be crystallized into a single sentence: there’s always a silver lining to things. As strange, confusing and unpleasant as these times have been, we’ve also had time and distance to think, sort out our priorities and evaluate the weight of the decisions we make.
In the end, I, for one, feel that when this crisis blows over, for better or worse, all of us will come out stronger on the other side. I know I will, and I know you will.
Photo by Henna Houttu
