A season of fairytale endings, living by a bucket list, and discovering the better you, the summer you. Frozen in time, unlimited, in a state of euphoria.
Prior to the pandemic outbreak, I had planned on traveling, trying new foods, stepping out of my comfort zone, and tapping into my inner compass. Instead, I was given a 2 in 1 package deal: a quarantine set in place and a limited capacity set on my life experiences, memories, and potential for self-actualization.
And I had just finished my first year at college. That fresh start was all I needed to get me on my train to happyville. For the first time, I freed myself from the chains that had locked me down physically and psychologically for a very long time. Slowly, I was figuring out who I am and what makes me happy: the ultimate recipe for living.
The long sub-par summer that we experienced during this pandemic posed many challenges for us all. At one point, my mind was disconnected from my body. Being on a cycle of eating, sleeping, and watching Youtube until the next morning left my brain unstimulated and my extroverted side eager.
Towards the end of June, I zoned in on my two summer classes I registered for back in the spring. There no doubetdly is a thrill that comes with learning and developing a deep sense of knowledge. However, the more I witnessed suns starting to set earlier, the kids next door getting taller, and social media displaying the pandemic life progressing, the more I felt like a spectator of my own boring life.
Despite feeling unchallenged and time slipping away so easily, there are a lot of things that came out of this past summer when stripped of both responsibility and accountability.
One. Be grateful for your support system.
Being trapped inside my house for six months and with bare minimum communication with the outside world left me cherishing the time I was sharing with my family. Moments spent with family are truly timeless and all the more valuable during difficult situations like these.
Two. You have control over your life.
Despite the circumstances, that summer still had potential for us all. There holds so much truth in being able to make the most out of the situation that you are in. Although it was a challenging time, I was given an opportunity to self-reflect and take a short pause during this fast-paced world we live in.
Three. Living a healthy lifestyle is a learning process.
With so much time on my hands, I was able to redefine what it means to live healthy and discovered what physical activities make me happy. My family and I went on countless walks around the neighborhood typically after our hearty dinner when the sun was setting. Staying active benefited all of us both physically and mentally. Stepping foot out of my isolating house was extremely therapeutic and a good way to release the inevitably negative thoughts piling up inside.
