Quaranthings

Albeit spending almost two years of my life in this difficult season, stuck in a pandemic & enduring long hours of reading novels in spare time just to save myself from the most mundane of things. I realized how I've come to appreciate a bunch of small stuff - I called it Quaranthings. I'm a notorious homebody and I need good reasons to go outside. I realized how these small stuff helped me to cope during languishing hours.

It's exhausting when your mind isn't occupied because it will have a lot of time for overthinking. Since the start of the pandemic, I often find myself listening to the radio which I don't usually do before and somehow, it gives a calming and good vibes to start a day. It's also funny how I started to notice a long time hidden and not-so-used kitchen recipe books in our shelves. I've learned Baking and bonded over with my family for some recipes we haven't tried before. Although baking is great until you're finished and you need to wash a lot of bakeware. I've tried baking cupcakes & cookies like most of the beginners. Before the day ends, I just breathe and look up at the sky to watch how often it changes into pinkish or lavender color that served as my happy pill.

As much as I want to go to a serene country-side to escape the hustle and buzz of living in the city, those past few months were full of restrictions. I've discovered a collection of comfort movies known as the Studio Ghibli and escaped the ordinary by watching it and hoping in the back of my mind that I could somehow live on its cinematic universe. It's like Steve in Blues Clues hopping to go inside a magical painting. How could someone create such wonderful animations that looks real and enticing?

Also, when I was younger I aspired to become a writer. Word flows through me easily as an endless flowing stream and full of emotions without sacrificing authenticity. Now, there are times in which I cannot find the exact words to define what I truly feel. It's like I'm bleeding to write a piece, to open myself up completely; the anger, hope, despair etc. all these emotions are afraid of being accessible to anyone. Last week, I found an unused diary in my personal belongings (I never thought I had one) I decided to write again and make journals. I convinced myself to escape the writing slump. Who knows, maybe someday these thoughts will matter.

Of all these small stuff I called Quaranthings, I found a sudden respite or relief.