(The fact that I don’t know how to begin a letter to myself demonstrates what quarantine is doing to my social skills.) Hello! Today is April 18th, 2020, and we’ve been in quarantine for a couple of weeks now. Besides the tremendous amount of time I’ve wasted on social media and Netflix in the past weeks, this time of uncertainty has taught me a lot, and I want to remember the lessons that I’ve learned and make use of them when quarantine is over, so I think this is probably the best place to document some of those lessons. If the future me is ever feeling clueless and stuck, these reminders should help you get back on track. (For anyone else reading this, the following advice will sound extremely cheesy but for some reason, they were mindblowing for me when I finally understood them.)
- You’re here for a reason
The future seems very unclear right now, and initially, I took that as an excuse to stop caring about things. It’s always easier to cling to negativity and anxiety, and at first, I did exactly that. I’m the type of person that likes routine, so when quarantine started, I didn’t know what to do with myself. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that this period can be so much more than a clump of weeks or months that I can barely remember. This is actually the perfect time to grow and to learn more about myself. Sure, I can work out and study and be traditionally productive, but I can also develop in a more mental and emotional sense. It’s funny how I didn’t take SEL days seriously in school, but now I find myself watching the same TED talks with a completely different mindset. Don’t let routine control you; your life is far more than a monotonous cycle.
- You are more capable than you think.
Don’t define yourself as the skills you’ve gained thus far; you have a lot more growing to do! There are always new things to learn and don’t ever lose that inner explorer. I recently realized that I’ve been putting myself in a box, and I’ve forgotten about a lot of the things I used to be passionate about. Life isn’t about finishing the next task and getting lost in work, it’s about learning, growth, expression, etc.
- Gratitude can transform your perspective
During this quarantine, it’s really hitting that I have so much to be grateful for. But going forward, I don’t want times like these to be the only times I feel grateful; every day, remind yourself of all that you have. It’s astounding how fast your mood can change just by taking a couple of seconds to appreciate what you have. I want to start writing what I’m grateful for every day, and if I still haven’t done that, future me needs to get on that.
- Always take time out for your family
It’s funny to write this now since all I’ve been doing is spending time with my family, but I hope that you continue to stay connected with your family after this is over. My parents have been having Zoom calls with our relatives in India, and it’s really nice to see them again. There’s so much that you can learn from your family, and make sure to put effort into those relationships; your family will always be there for you.
- Being vulnerable is not an act of weakness
This probably seems very random, but this is something I’m still trying to learn. Since I can’t see people in person, it’s a lot harder to make the effort to talk to people (that sounds sad but it’s true), and to truly express how I’m feeling. We can complain about how everything’s canceled and all, but when it comes to the more real, hard-hitting topics, I always hold back. But I’m hoping the more I tell this to myself, the more it’ll sink in: there’s nothing wrong with expressing yourself! Your emotions are valid, and it’s an act of strength to tell people how you feel.
There’s a lot more that I could probably include, but even these few ideas are a lot to actually implement. So to future me: don’t let situations that are out of your control drive your emotions. Keep being the chill, hilarious, amazing, (and extremely humble) person that you are. I’m shocked I actually went through with writing this, but I guess it shows how bored I truly am.