Finally… I have the opportunity to shine. I can excel at something. Be better than most. It’s only what I deserve after all—given all of the effort I’ve put in and the years of training.

Of course my achievements are going unnoticed. But I won’t pout or sulk. I won’t boast. Or maybe I will. Yes I know… I’ll write a blog post about it.

About how good I am at ISOLATING. At SOCIAL DISTANCING.

One day last week I was talking to a friend (via FB messenger of course) and commented that I probably needed to go out and do a few things (post office, groceries etc) but it wasn’t that long since I’d left the house…. I thought back, “About four days,” I said. And then I realised it’d been six days.

I’ve essentially lived alone since the early 1990s. When I worked full-time I adored my alone-time. My job was fairly full-on and I made myself available 24/7 and checked emails constantly. On weekends I’d occasionally catch up with friends but other than that I’d bunker down. I didn’t want to see or talk to anyone. I was tired of being nice. I celebrated the introduction of self-checkouts at the local library and supermarkets.

And more recently I’ve worked from home. So… I’m accustomed to online chats and occasional video conferences.

As a blogger (and avid social network user) many of the people I feel closest to (or most engaged with) are virtual friends—only some of whom I’ve met in person as well.

But I see how much some people are struggling. There’s debate over whether this is easier for introverts, given their preference for alone-time… or at least the energy we draw from time to ourselves.

I know people who do stuff all of the time. They rarely stay at home for entire days and are completely unable to entertain themselves for extended periods of time; or at least have no interest in doing so. Those who prefer the company of others and need to be ‘doing things’.

I’ve never been like that. Even when I was more sociable I enjoyed my alone-time. I happily spent school or university holidays holed up racing through dozens of books or watching rented videos.

So… life doesn’t actually feel that different for me at the moment. It’s business as usual.

Sure I’m spending too much time on social media to ignore what’s happening in the world and the sense of trepidation or uncertainly is most definitely contagious. Like many I’m finding it hard to concentrate and feeling unsettled. But my everyday life is pretty much unchanged.

I talked last week about how people are coping. I’d offer advice about developing some routines, trying to find small things to celebrate / be grateful for, exercising and getting fresh air or remembering that this too will end… but I’m kinda tired of the motivational and uplifting quotes suggesting we’ll come out of this as better people. So… I will avoid the advice-giving.

In fact I thought about avoiding the ‘C’ word completely but realised it’s at the forefront of most of our minds, so it’d be like ignoring the elephant in the room. So, instead I’m just saying… hang in there and I’m including some of my fave pics from ‘Mommy Needs Vodka’ on Facebook for your entertainment.

How are you doing? Is life in lockdown or self-isolation difficult for you? Or perhaps you’re enjoying having time with your family?