Who would have thought that this pandemic would reach a year or more?
When Covid19 hits the Philippines last March 2020, I thought that it would be just a month or 2. I even advised my sister working in Manila not to go home here in our province, thus she opted to stay in her boarding house in Manila for work at home company arrangement, but later in the year she got depressed and eventually resigned and left home bound, after having been diagnosed of Covid far away from home. Our hospital also discontinued 2 months of operation for the Out Patient Department, our unit included, thus we really thought that the lockdown effort can suffice in getting rid of the coronavirus. Two months of distraction appeared nothing initially, it was like a weird staycation at home. However, after that, the reality sink in, the world was indeed uncertain of how long this pandemic would keep on distracting our plans, work and our usual lives.
The year 2020 was like a game changer of our lives, and the entire world. Businesses were shutting down, a lot of people from the working class got unemployed, the schools have to consider online and modular classes, and suddenly healthcare became an issue. The pandemic is a big distraction of our priorities, the initial phase was the hardest, it causes so much stress and depression to a lot of people. I remember when the new learning started in schools, quite a number of students around the country committed suicide because coping with the new system was seemed so hard for them to keep up. Suicide cases went up, from loneliness because of travel limitations, persistent unemployment, and other unknown personal and psychological stressors. A colleague of mine got panic disorder from the stresses brought about by Covid19. It seems the entire pandemic thing is a bitter pill to swallow... Cheers if you survived the sudden shift of life in the year 2020!
September last year, was a crossroad for me. This was the month when Covid19 cases in the provinces soared high, I was thinking of quitting my job in the hospital because of fear, thus I ventured back working/ blogging online, this was the time I discovered this platform. Mind you, earning in read.cash that time was the hardest with the point system, thus I have second thoughts of quitting my job. I still need a day job to finance myself, give something for my parents, and finance my future plans. So, quitting wasn't an option, never was.
At the back of my mind, the pandemic is a long distraction. If I won't shrug every uncertainty out of my system, then my life will be in a complete pause for God knows how long. The fear and the fighter inside me played tug of war in my mind, of course, the fighter wins!
Shaking off every distraction, I stopped writing in read.cash for 3 months to concentrate on my review for IELTS. Yes, I have to pursue my plans no matter what. I dread traveling during pandemic, but I conquered it. I travelled to Cebu City last March 2021 to take the IELTS exam, and conquered not only the stress of the exam, but also the hassles of traveling - two flights cancelled, exam rebooking, travel by boat to Cebu and vice versa, new protocols, the anxiety of quarantine and processing documents, etc. The craziest travel I have made in my entire life.
Now, I can still say that this pandemic is a huge distraction of my plans. Lately, I have read in the news regarding travel restrictions for Filipinos, considering the country is in Level 3 - HIgh (Travel Health Notice )(Level 4 as the highest), and this might be another temporary lay off for Filipinos traveling out of the country.
Anyway, I am confident that by God's grace, this will all come to pass. We are all in the middle of the storm for a year and a half now, and precisely a rainbow after it. I'm claiming it! So, let's keep on hoping and never cease praying that a brand new Covid-free day is waiting for us in the near future.
Let go and let God.
(The Lord says) "Anyone who trust in ME will not be disappointed."
- Isaiah 49:23
I thought that I would just be venting out my skirmish thoughts about life and my plans at the moment. And, well, it coincides with the prompt Distraction by @JonicaBradley, great timing!
#17 Distraction - Writing Prompt by @JonicaBradley is up.
If you want to join, the rules are simple:
Write anything about distraction
Write 100% original content
Join and submit to the community PromptlyJonica
Tag @JonicaBradley
Have Fun!
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©️ LykeLyca
Ang pinaka the best na Christmas gift sating lahat ay matapos na itong pandemic na ito. 🙏
Speaking of distraction and pandemic some rumor and theory says that people on top, higher than the government are using pandemic to distract people from their own plan. Like they're planning for something bigger. On the smaller scale the government are likewise using this pandemic for their own hidden agenda distracting them to snuggle money from its people. Thought I don't have any evidence, who knows, the rumors might be real
We all experiencing different battles that this pandemic have brought but yeah your right God is with us ♥️
We're the same maam. Last year I was working in Cebu then the covid started March which I thought it will be ended after 2 months. I don't expect it will be longer and I thought first, it wasn't serious but a biggest mistake.🥺
Let's keep praying ma'am Lyca. We know that this pandemic will end soon and everything will back to normal. 🙏🙏
So, asa nka now? Naa pa ka sa Manila? Stay safe always and praying with you..
D.a pako manila ma'am Lyca.. wa pako kahbwo kung kanus a ko makauli.. Thank you so much maam. You too stay safe always and sending prayers to you ma'am..🙏
Out of the pandemic, we will all have stories of distraction and stories of resilience, and stories of conquering fears - as your life has shown. Kudos on moving on and pressing on!
Ang tagal na no, ang tagal na ng pandemic na to. Ang daming affected, mga kabuhayan at kung ano ano pa. Pero tiwala pa rin ako ng matatapos din tong lahat ng to. 🙏 Hoping and praying 🤗
It is indeed a distraction. My family and I were planning to go home last year but because of covid 19, we postponed it. I miss Cebu already especially my hometown.
Bisaya pod ka madam? Hehe
Sobrang distractions na tlga ang pandemic, ako nga po ndi rin makauwi sa family ko kasi may baby ako na dapat isaalang-alang, talagang tiwala lng sa Diyos ang kailangan natin para malampasan ito, at syempre extra precautions din para ndi mahawa
It is and was an distraction. A lot of plans were put on hold. Huhu . My traveling feet is so unhappy.
It was also a character testing time. Ugh.
Pretty soon we will be moving around. We have to. Trusting God by then we can already fight off the virus without the fear of being critical
Sobrang distraction madam..mas worried ako jan sa pag uwi ko. Everything will change since dto ako sa place na normal lng.
We must live without stress, leaving everything in God's hands. We should always take preventive measures and try to keep our daily routine as normal as possible. Take good care of ourselves and thank God for the health of each one of us.
A great distraction indeed. Nkakaoverwhelm na. For us parents with little kids no longer can do house chores and focus on them but on accomplishing their modules
Indeed pandemic is our long distraction that hinder us to do the thing we like. Btw, congrats sa achievement <3
It is indeed a very long distraction, disrupting everything we know as normal. Fervently hoping, praying and looking forward to better days🙏 You did well when you faced your fears and had your exam. Kudos to you :)
Congratulations on what you have accomplished despite the circumstances. And you're right. Let's hope for a world without Covid in the future.
Thank you, actually I still hope that I could make a good use of it though in the future. Praying with you.
I never thought as well that it will take this long. This pandemic indeed causes so much stress and depression to a lot of people. But I am still grateful that I got a job to support my family. 💗
Mao jud! You are blessed to have your job, sis. Sa ka dghan na unemployed, blessing pud ning naa ta ani na platform.
Honestly, the world wasn't prepared for what happened. Covid-19 took us by surprise, we didn't have time to plan or prepare and no preparation would have made us thought it would last this long.
I lost my job because of the lockdown since my company couldn't pay any longer. It was then I became a full-time blogger and God has been faithful to me. These are difficult times and I can only pray that God wipes away the pain the virus has caused us all.
Oh, I'm so sorry about your job and company. Indeed, God is faithful to His children who knows how to knock and search for His mercy. This platform is a blessing to a lot of us on this time of pandemic.
pandemic really did change our lifestyle also..glad we are still fighting up to this day with these viruses around. let us keep the faith that this all shall pass 🙏
It shall pass.. I hope sooner. Mao ng fighting lang jud ta ani tawon...
hey sis... the ship look really clean!
Uu diba? Na amaze din ako, medyo matagal na rin hindi nkasakay ng barko, ganda nga mao ng grabe akong tulog jud ana na time sa barko hahah!
nindot to sis kay walay distorbo..
It is really discouraging what you say about suicides. Something very similar happened here with marriages, couples, those who lived alone, the changes to their lives they could not bear. But those of us who trust in God here are fighting by His hand.
Amen! Fighting with His grace indeed! What can we do without Him, He is all we got to keep our minds sane at this troubled time.
Every time things started to look better, some bad news always comes to ruin the day. That is the case with Cov19 in my region. New variants, non-stop spreading and stubborn people really didn't help either.
Ah! I feel you about those stubborn people who don't care about others. This problem needs unity to solve it, so I hope everyone can do its part :(
Surely we will overcome this Covid! We were not able to go home this year because of that hopefully next year okay an mag resume an lahat. Let's go back to normal. Good luck and God bless you to all your plans. 🥰
Yay! Pauwi na rin sya, sana nga eh para nmn makapag bakasyon nmn tau heheh! God bless you too!
Proud of you, doctora! I wish you all the bes!
All the best for us madam ganda.. and thank you!
you're welcome, doctora!
Congratulations to you. The pandemic has well, is a big distraction, and a disaster. However, we have given Mother Earth a little break from our destructive ways. Keep safe and am wishing you the best in your future endeavours, whatever they may be, and I hope you and your family all stay safe.
Hi! Thank you! Well, that's one big advantage to Mother Nature, the Earth really thrives of our mean ways, this is payback, haha! Stay safe too and all the best to all of us!
Hi and my pleasure, yes a big advantage to Mother Nature but she deserves it 😁
Same here, I thought pandemic will end at 2 months ..many plans get delay and the family business almost close.. thank God and we're still in survival mode.