When A Pandemic Defines You
Since it has always been my own claim that when someone suffers from writer’s block, it is actually the best time to sit down, and write. Just put on paper as to where they are at mentally, at a specific moment. So even though I don’t necessarily like the term writer’s block, I am here today without a large outline, with a glorious set of topics. However I think it’s important to write.
Write often and always. It’s a theory I have had about writing, in that nothing bad can come from writing. Whether I consider a piece is great, or it didn’t turn out too well at all. I think something positive comes from anything we are writing.
Lately, when I sit here and contemplate about the thoughts in my mind, and the ideas I want to share in my writings, I seem to fall back on the current state of mind that everyone is in when it comes to this new way of living when it comes to the coronavirus. I feel like I am constantly repeating certain points about it, but I can’t say enough about how this pandemic has taught me so much about every part of life. Whether it’s my own life, or the lives of other people.
I will continue to remain adamant about the fact that this covid-19 change of life that we all had to accommodate really is, a sort of strange blessing from God. I think at least for me, it was a roadblock that I think I needed, because life was passing me by.
Living in a world subconsciously. Mindfulness skills, are still great, but they were being pushed to the side and not utilized as they should be. Last year, when I began to seriously master mindfulness, I remember telling myself a million times that I would never take day to day life for granted again. But we truly are, only human; including myself.
I was in a world where I began to find myself actually at a loss for words sometimes. Or so I thought. It seemed a bit more difficult at first to develop new and interesting topics. I was in this strange kind of mental rut, where I believe I was making myself think, that there’s no subjects to write about, except pieces about the pandemic. At first, I felt as if the future work I would publish out, would turn to a bore, if it was the same subject matter over and over again.
This is where I learned that I can write countless articles, stories and memoirs about not only just the pandemic itself, but more about what the coronavirus does, to define my life. Let’s face it, it does for all of us. While I feel like I am being defined by something that seems bigger than myself, that isn’t the same statement as me saying that I have no control. It’s an easy point to prove, because I just lost my 25th pound. All done, while sitting on my ass here at home living in quarantine. So, I haven’t given us control of my own life yet.
Control and define are in the same realm, but are not the same. They are two distinct, and different things. The easiest examples involve the quarantine, of course.
I will not allow covid19 to control my life, and make me a prisoner both in my house, and in my head. However, at the same time, I have to be careful, as there are many places I can’t go to right now. Using caution in day to day living is something I do without giving up my freedom to anyone.
I want to allow this entire situation to define me as a person who was able to dig deep and learn about himself, during one of the toughest times, that we all have been faced with.
The very last thing I will EVER do, is let the pandemic control my life.
I will make sure it defines me, as it shows the mission I am on, and the mission I will always travel. That is a mission of transparency, hope, support, the truth, and a vulnerability that isn’t held back.
By MICHAEL PATANELLA; Author, Publisher, Editor
