With everything currently going on in the world, it can be easy to wallow in your sorrows. Trust me, I have had my fair share of that. At the beginning of quarantine, I missed UCLA so much, and I really saw no end in sight. However, after getting used to being at home, I have realized that life could be a lot worse. Here are 5 things in my life that I am extremely grateful for:
- Being Back Home With Family
-
After coming back from college, being stuck at home was the last thing I wanted to do. Luckily, I have a pretty tight bond with my family, and I am eternally grateful for that. I even wrote my birthday article about them (shameless plug). My parents cook for me whenever they can, my sisters are my best friends and my dog loves to cuddle every day. Although I did not get to end my sophomore year like I had planned, I cannot complain about being back home. Yes, sometimes I do feel trapped while being inside for too long, but I am just glad that those around me make it enjoyable.
- New Skills & Hobbies
-
Not being able to leave the house means that I have more time to pick up new skills that I have always wanted to learn. Even though I should be dedicating a lot of this time to my schoolwork, I have been spending most of it at my piano, and I do not regret it. I recently started songwriting, and it has been both a difficult and rewarding process. It is actually really entertaining to create music that I could picture myself listening to everyday. Not only is it fun to come up with melodies, but I get to be creative with the words and phrases I use. One of my main inspirations is Olivia Rodrigo. She is only 17 years old, but she has written some of the catchiest songs with incredibly clever lyrics. Thanks to Olivia, I have been able to keep busy during quarantine.
- Internet Access
-
Having access to the internet is definitely something I took for granted while on campus. But with social distancing taking place, it is now more important than ever. I am able to talk to my friends face to face, contribute to class discussions and watch live lectures. Obviously the ideal situation would be to hang out with friends in person and actually be able to attend classes, but this is the next best thing we can do. Some people do not even have this option, so we have to be grateful for the things we do have. I know that for me, not having internet access would make this situation pretty tough, so it is essential to keep in mind that this commodity is a privilege.
- My Health
-
Amidst all that is happening right now, the most valuable thing I can be grateful for is my health. While it can be scary to deal with a pandemic during flu, cold and allergy season, I know that my immune system is strong enough to recover. However, this is not the case for many people, which is why it is so important that those who are not immunocompromised do their part and stay home as much as possible. Although I wish I could live life the way I used to, I know that it would be selfish to take my own health for granted.
- The Future
-
Last but not least, I am grateful for the future. Even though I do not know exactly when life will be back to normal, I am grateful for the fact that things always get better, no matter how bad they seem in the moment. Just think about how good life will be when all of this ends. Simple moments with friends will not be taken for granted. We will be able to fully engage with our classmates. Hugs will mean so much more. I know that this time may not be in the near future, but I am definitely willing to wait.
Sure, being in quarantine is not as thrilling as being out in the world, but there is so much to do in the meantime. Instead of entertaining negative thoughts, use the time to appreciate everything you have. Talk to your parents, find a new hobby, FaceTime someone you have been meaning to reach out to. Look forward to doing mundane things like sitting in a lecture hall filled with people or eating chicken tenders and curly fries with your friends at 1 a.m. I know I will.