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An Extrovert in Isolation

Today is the tenth day of my social isolation. The city I am in, I have been living here for the last eleven years and never before this have I spent ten continuous days, locked up at home alone.

What's the big deal you say?

I am an extrovert. In case you don't know what I am talking about, you can take this test for yourself - https://www.psychologies.co.uk/self/are-you-an-introvert-or-an-extrovert.html. I am not used to staying indoor...staying alone...staying without being able to connect with other people. For me, it is important to meet my friends, it is important to go out for movies or dinners together. My work style is going up to people's desks, sipping coffee together and discuss business or strategies. So, when we were instructed to go into isolation to keep ourselves safe from Covid-19, for me it wasn't just changing a few things in my routine...it was changing my whole lifestyle! Changing one's lifestyle is not always easy. Every #jantacurfew story of people treating it as a family day raised my level of loneliness and depression by a degree. My family is away...and I am locked down in this city...ALONE!

In the last ten days, I have had moments when I have felt extremely lonely. Times when I have desperately wanted to go out of my house, go out and meet a friend. Sit for a while with someone and talk...not over the internet...but face to face. Never have an empty house felt so heavy. On our #jantacurfew day, I have spent hours standing on my balcony, looking outside, waiting to see just one more human face...anyone. Never have I longed to meet a stranger this much. I have tried reading, tried Netflix, tried cooking, tried cleaning...everything that the internet had suggested...but every time I would finish one of those tasks, the loneliness would creep back. I even have had scary dreams...waking up in the middle of the night, wondering if I might be getting into a depression.

It's not about staying alone or just social distancing. It's the forced social distancing and everything that is happening around the world. The news...media...social media...everything!

I am sure I am not alone in this situation. I can probably hear thousands of people right now, screaming that they are all going through the same.

Photo credit: http://theconversation.com/


What did I do about all these feelings?

It's like those phases of a breakup. Everything is messed up until the acceptance phase. My brain slowly started accepting reality. I convinced myself that this is how it is going to be for the next whole month or maybe even more. So, I had two choices, to be miserable about it or to go ahead and make this my new (temporary) lifestyle.

I am not saying this acceptance comes in just a moment or even a day. I still have those moments of loneliness or depression...but now I just try to make a conscious effort to look at the positive side of things. I don't know if I can turn into a better cook...but now I might. I don't know if I can finish that one book I have been keeping on my side table and never have time to read...but now I might finish it. I didn't know if I could take out some time to write another blog...but I did!

Another important lesson that this tough time has taught me is that I am so blessed to have so many people in life who selflessly care for me. In these last ten days, I have received endless messages on Instagram, Whatsapp, Facebook, have received innumerable calls...from people whom I might have just met over a previous trip, for whom I am not supposed to be at all important...but they took the initiative to check on me if I was doing fine. Tough times indeed bring people closer. In our happy days, we often forget to count our blessings. In these darker days, I am making an effort to be thankful for all these people in my life.

So, to all my extrovert friends who might be reading this, I won't give you another list of things that you can do during these days of isolation...there are already too many out there. All I want to say is, I know it's not easy for an extrovert to be in isolation. I know it gets depressing at times. I feel you...I am being through all of that. But as the saying goes...' this too shall pass '. And #onceThisIsOver, life will get back to normal and we all will party the hell out!

The world is going through a crisis...times are tough...but we will get through it!





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