Missing – HEY, NIKKA

Last week, I wrote about the things I miss about normal life, like quiet mornings, hugs and kisses, the crowd of people and those times before the pandemic.

Things will not quickly snap back to how it was before. A new normal is going to be the norm. COVID-19 has changed how we live, work, and play. What has become “normal”? The quarantines, wearing masks and face shields, washing hands, and social distancing.

Read : What I Miss About Normal Life

It has been roughly a month and a half since we are forced to stay-at-home. There is nothing good about being indoor all day. But surely, I will miss these things when quarantine comes to an end.

More Idle Time

After my post about WFH Tips from a First Timer, I was crazy having a lot of free time. My Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are no longer “working days.” They may have realized that we are buckling down even on weekends and holidays. More idle time means more time for my hobbies— blogging, journaling and jumping rope.

It’s Okay to Have Unproductive Days

Forget about productivity. It is all right to slow down and take a pause, and it is okay not to be productive. We are in the middle of a pandemic, and we are all coping with the best we can. But when I feel like it, I am either drafting a new blog post (just like today) or journaling in my Hobonichi or just playing My Hospital. I always make sure that I am doing something every day to keep me on track.

Lots of Cooking

I was able to cook and try another recipe. One of my favorites is my Sinigang na Atay. It is kind of unusual, but if you are a Sinigang lover, you will undoubtedly love its sour and savory taste. Yummy!

Working from Home

I have learned so much about working from home, how to be productive, and how to keep track of the schedule. Not all employees are lucky enough to work from home. I am more than grateful to be able to work from home.

Read:{Why} Work from Home is Not for Me

Not Having to Set the Alarm

I have not set the alarm since Day 1 of the quarantine. I do not know how I managed to wake up between 7 – 8 am without the alarm knowing I am a heavy sleeper and not a morning person. Maybe because I was in bed early and did not have any trouble in sleeping.

Not Rushing to Work

I am taking my time to prepare in the morning. By 8a.m., I am in front of my laptop, either answering messages or working on a project.

Wearing Comfy Clothes

I regretted I did not buy more tank tops and shorts. This has been my everyday outfit, comfortable, and airy. I do not feel the need to add stress in wearing nicer clothes. I am trying to get as comfortable as I can.

Not Leaving the Bed

I work in bed, eat-in bed, and sleep in the bed. As if I had a choice.

I am going to miss “Not leaving the bed” the most. What will you miss the most when quarantine ends?

Only when normal things are not normal anymore, do we realize how special normal things are. – Anonymous

The most important thing we can do right now is stay at home. We have got a couple more weeks to go. Coronavirus lets us miss our daily activities. Well, I don’t mind staying at home. I spent a lot of my time indoors, even before that. I’m a little happier to be at home, though. Advised to stay home, what more can I ask for?

I thought a lot about what I miss in everyday life. There are not many things that I miss in my everyday life, to be honest. Below are just some of the things I miss the most.

I miss buying food or running late in the evening to 7-Eleven to grab a snack or a soda. Usually, I sit up late at night to get my hobbies done. And because I still don’t have a refrigerator to carry on drinks, I go out in the middle of the night to buy.

I miss setting the alarm and waking up to the alarm.

I miss the office, walking to and from the office every day, rushing to the office and coming home late after a long day at work. I don’t miss the coffee breaks, but I miss being around my colleagues.

I miss wearing my uniforms and my office shoes, sneakers. I miss choosing what to wear on Saturdays (not really). I am looking forward to going back to work.

I miss going out and enjoying myself. I miss leaving the house. Though, I still leave the house when I have to do some errands outside.

I miss shopping in the mall and going to a grocery store without a queue.

I miss having privacy, having a degree of confidence about the future, and feeling secure.

I miss the freedom to do what we want to do and where we want.

I miss the daily life, the vacations, and the weekends.

I miss the hugs and kisses. I cannot wait to go home and hug my family. I missed my Dad’s 70th birthday (April 13). I was meant to be home to celebrate my Dad’s birthday.

I miss the quiet mornings. My neighbors appear to be busy in the morning. Some are aggressively playing loud music, slamming their doors, and going on several conversations at once.

I miss the crowd of people and interacting with strangers.

I miss everything.

I miss savoring the everyday life again, the joy of having a good day.

I miss having a chance to appreciate all the things that we have taken for granted.

I miss those times before the pandemic. Things will never revert to the way it used to be before. We are living in a different world now. We should not want life to be like what it is used to be. Pandemic has pushed us to take better care of people. We need each other out there. I do not want that feeling to go away again.