SingleD and Sane

SingleD and Sane 

By Nancy D. Galang

April 26, 2020        

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning how to dance in the rain." - Viviane Greene

When faced with any adversity, keeping one’s sanity is a challenge. Like pag ika'y naging SingleD, o kaya na-quarantine like now. 

It has been 6 weeks that we are in Enhanced Community Quarantine (and it was extended until May 15) at alam nating lahat na hindi ito madali.

Noon, busy tayo sa ating trabaho at sanay tayo na araw-araw lumalabas. Hinahanap-hanap natin ang mahaba-habang bakasyon.

Ngayon, we have so much time in our hands. Hindi natin in-expect na ganito naman kahabang panahon tayo mananatili sa ating bahay.

Nakakainip.

Nakakabagot. Minsan nakakasawa na.  Nauubusan na tayo ng puwedeng gawin habang naka-quarantine. At habang nasa bahay, tumataas ang anxiety natin, worried about our lives after this. 

Pero hindi ba sabi nga nila, it’s not about waiting for the storm to pass, but it's how we learn to dance in the rain. Kaya I have tried to look at the positive side in this crisis and ECQ.

So far I have done a few productive things to keep my sanity while in quarantine.

During the first week, I cleaned my house (like I know most of us have done) since marami pa akong boxes na hindi nailigpit at mga gamit na dapat ipamigay para makapag-declutter. While doing so, I was able to rearrange furniture and create my own coffee corner.  And I was very pleased.

A new corner in the house, created during this qurantine.

Pagkakataon ko na rin career-in ang pagluluto, something that I have not found time to do nung araw-araw pa akong lumalabas ng bahay to work.  I went further than just cooking. I have now discovered that it gives me more joy when I come up with good food styling.

In the coming weeks, siyempre patuloy ang pagluluto at paglilinis, pero I figured, I wanted to do more things.  So while working from home, I also thought about pursuing one of the things I have always liked to do: writing. 

Since I was young, I have kept a diary where I wrote things that mattered to me. This time, I took it a bit further and found the courage to come up with my own blog about my journey as a singleD mom.  Something I thought would be worth sharing not only to singleD people, but even to those who are married. 

What used to be just a hobby has now turned into a passion. I, too, have been inspired and blessed by my friends who have given me support and good feedback about my blogs.

Since writing is a mental exercise, kailangan may physical exercise din. I have always been health conscious. Working out is something I have learned to do since I was in High School. 

Since the quarantine, I have gone back to
doing regular exercise.

Regular exercise is important to me not just because I want to look good (bawal ang LOSYANG lalo na pag SingleD), but because I have realized the value of health. I have kids to look after.  Every parent would like to be there for their children's weddings and pregnancies, their grandchildren, and more.

So far, at my age, bihira akong magkasakit. I have no maintenance meds. I take vitamins just now para maging matibay ako sa harap ng Covid 19 crisis.

Above all, isa sa pinaka na-appreciate ko ngayong quarantine ay makasama ang apat kong anak, which my eldest named as my G Skwad (from Galang Squad).

My eldest Nix left home right after college to stay at a condominium near the airport. She was then a flight attendant for a local airline.  Soon after, she worked for an international airline and was deployed abroad.  

Since then, ito ang pinakamahabang panahon that I and her other siblings got to spend time with her.

Nadja and Rocky have been staying at our rented condo unit in Taft, near their school.  I have always missed them, Nadja most especially, since she has been busy with her dance training, classes, and events even on weekends.

It was only Nastassia and me every day in the house together, before this quarantine.

So far, I am pleased with what I see. I must have done something right to have very loving, upright, God-fearing children. 

This quarantine has led me to rediscover my G Skwad. 

Nix is the “daddy” of the family. Kasama ako sa pinapagalitan niya when I make mistakes. She is very caring to her siblings and really stands up to her role as “panganay." Masipag and disciplined.  While on leave from her job as a flight attendant, she manages her online business, day in and day out.

Nastassia is my second daughter. She graduated with a degree in Communication Arts in May 2019 and has been job hunting until we were quarantined.  She is the home buddy among my four children. She inherited my love for writing, singing, and watching local movies.

Nadja studies Multimedia Arts and is passionate about dancing. But what I have discovered now is that despite her achievements, she has remained humble.  And she generously shares her talent to those who are new at dancing. 

Rocky, my youngest and only son, is another artist.  I am always in awe at the plates (he is taking up Interior Design) he turns out almost every day.  It is impressive how he can focus at his tasks. He is also businessminded and has an online shop. These traits, I know, would take him far someday.

Rediscovering my children is one of the blessings I am able to appreciate during this pandemic. And you can do the same.

You may have children who may be craving for your attention (especially if you are a SingleD working mom or are both working parents). NOW is the time to play with them, talk to them, help them in their activities. Get to know them deeper.

For the younger children, we should take time explaining to them what is happening.  This is the perfect time to make them realize the importance of being bigger than one's self.  That some some people are now in worse situations.  Then, maybe, teach them what they can do to help.

For instance, my kids and I are doing our little share in preparing relief packs for frontliners stationed in nearby checkpoints, our street sweepers, delivery service crew, and garbage collectors.

My kids preparing relief packs for
 Covid 19 frontliners.

And what about cooking? If you don't know how, now is the time to learn kahit mga simpleng luto. Kung marunong na kayo, then teach your children as well.  Convincing them to learn it might be bit of a challenge, but they just might end up having fun.

This quarantine has made me realize we are just back to the basics, appreciating the important things in life – food and shelter, family, communication, health.  There are a lot of material things that we don’t really need. Maybe it’s time to declutter. Set them aside and give them to people who need them more than you do.

Food styling has given me more joy than just cooking.

More importantly, what have you done for yourself in this quarantine? Baka may hobbies kayo na naisantabi dahil busy sa daily grind. It can be as simple as reading, watching films, tending to your garden.

Maybe it’s also time to start a healthier lifestyle. Eat healthy and do regular exercise kahit a few minutes each day.  We need to do therapeutic activities that will help in keeping our mental health in place and enable us to cope more during this challenging time. 

Our first two recipients of relief packs from the
delivery service industry.

And lastly, perhaps it is during this quarantine that we can spend more time renewing our faith and relationship with God. Only prayers can get us through this storm. Let's learn to dance in the rain with the help of the One above.

Until then! Catch you later!

Nancy Mommy