Billions of people around the world are experiencing an entirely new reality. They are being asked to isolate themselves. They are being told to distance themselves from those they love and care about. They are passing up opportunities to enjoy the activities that are normally taken for granted. Some are missing holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and special events that would typically be celebrated. People are being forced to work within the same walls where they eat, sleep, exercise, and relax.
A small portion of those “billions” serve (or have served) in the military. For them, this is nothing new. Isolated from family. Standing in long lines waiting for necessities. Missing out on important celebrations or exciting activities. Exercising within the confines of the space where they eat, sleep, and work. All of these things are taken for granted by the average person, but someone who serves/served in the military recognized their importance long before a pandemic.
Is that ironic or sad? The harsh truth is yes, it is ironic that people have to face adversity before they appreciate some of the most simple things in their lives. Yes, it is sad that we are all experiencing unprecedented times where panic is normal, misinformation runs rampant, and fear is a normal feeling.
Self-isolation isn’t the toughest thing you’ll be asked to do in your life. For some, it might, and for everyone’s sake, let’s hope that’s true. While “stuck at home” in this state of isolation, there is an opportunity. I get it, lives are at stake, people are losing jobs, businesses are crumbling, and the side effects of this crisis will leave a wake of disaster long after it passes. Nobody is trying to water that down. That would just be stupid and insincere. However, there is an opportunity looming within those walls of your homemade isolation space.
“What do I do with all this free time stuck at home?” Well, if you have kids, you are probably entertaining them with scholastic activities… or whatever keeps them busy and keeps you away from the liquor cabinet (until they go to bed). If you don’t have kids, you are probably going stir-crazy more than the parents. Utilize this time to seek opportunities and seize opportunities.
What opportunity? Well, it’s 2020. Turn to the phone you’re already utilizing to inundate yourself with social media, change the narrative in your self-isolation story, and utilize it as a tool. Google and YouTube are powerful tools that we also take for granted. Within their digital warehouse of endless information reside some powerful opportunities — for education and self-growth. Try sprinkling some of that into your daily routine. Learn about something that intrigues you. Read a book that has been collecting dust on the shelf. Teach yourself something new. Launch a website to share your obsession with cats. Study new graphic design techniques to create better memes. Workout in your garage. Fix the sh*t you keep saying you will get to and typically never do. Maybe you can find a “D.I.Y.” toilet paper video and solve your problems.
Do something other than complain about being stuck at home. Self-isolation is nothing new for those veterans — ask one of them how they coped with the long periods stuck in confined spaces with limited options.
𝑳𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.
Benjamin Franklin
You can sit at home, bored, anxiety-ridden, sad and lonely. Or, you can find light in the situation. Self-isolation is NOT all that bad. Stop complaining. Stop whining. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. We are all in the same boat.
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— arbonne30withLaceyNowlin (@lacey_nowlin) April 3, 2020
Anonymous Animosity 
Funny you post this – and well said – I’ve been thinking about this since lockdown started.
Heard loads of complaints, and it’s true – it’s amazing how many people take their everyday freedoms for granted.
One of the biggest things I’ve heard most average people say is they’re having trouble dealing with their own thoughts. Thing is, when you’re used to isolation you actually hear *better*. You gain more clarity, you develop more focus, and you learn to see opportunities in that time. It just takes a little discipline.
Growing up in the country and coming from a family where my dad, grandad, etc served, I was made to learn this early, and I’m thankful for it – it helped tremendously with own experiences later on in life, and still does. We’ve got as much time as we’re allocated on this earth – might as well do something constructive with it rather than complain.
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I couldn’t agree more!! We will never get this time back, so we should do something constructive with it! The complaining and whining is killing me.
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