Living, Loving, and Working at Home (when Quarantine) would be a Breeze for an Introvert

After few months of increasing anxiety about how dangerous Covid-19 was, the trill of staying at home where we safe and able work on assignment, made me believe that quarantine is the same meaning of much-needed break from everyday fast-paced and energetic routine. Especially for him. Even I know he felt a mixture of excitement and worry, lol. 

Well... from the first month of quarantine on March, the academy announcing the cancellation of all in-person classes, his work responsibility transitioned to an online format. Virtual discussion with his workmate or his students on WA chat, made of recorded lectures and then publish the files on the website. So far, it's easy enough for him.

Me ? I haven't had a problem not leaving the home, lol. So, as usual, I cleaned our pavilion everyday, I make our room feel extra cozy, I've created mini private kitchen behind our room, cooking sometimes, re-read my favorite book, all of tracks on Kenny G were unlocked and of course write on my personal blog.

Home used to be the place where we could recharge energy with solitude activity ~

Until someday, my extroverted friend decided to break the rules and go physically to see me. Tell me about how this pandemic forced her to stay at home for months even she has a beautiful pantry at home. Tell me about how her kids struggling with their online classes even every corner of her home connecting with Wi-Fi. It makes me think, why she need for interaction was so great, when it felt like she'd already found a way to handle it personally (?)

No, no. I'm not anti-social. I'm not shy, lol. I do enjoy social interaction too. Me personally just love to be a small part of a big conversation. Have no trouble to get more experience the outside world, I'm fine with it. Relax in a bookstore or coffee shop, to find a sense of normalcy again. But only by myself. Truly alone. Not in the same way that my extroverted friend do :)

It's made me realized that every personality (introvert, extrovert, or something between them), struggle with anxiety and processes it differently.

Not everyone is privileged enough to stay at home all along day and not everyone know how to best stay in touch with their friend online.  

Maybe an introvert doesn't always stay calm in difficult times and an extrovert could appreciate moment of quarantine.

But I think, living, loving, and working at home still would be a breeze for an Introvert :)

Yang Tak Terbatas Pemaklumannya

Barangkali, sebagianmu masih satu suara, berpikir bahwa sebuah pencapaian adalah apa-apa yang nampak oleh mata, tentang mimpi-mimpi yang jadi nyata. Dari tiada menjadi ada, dari tak dikenal menjadi ternama, dari bawah hingga jadi juara. Sibuk berkembang diri dan meninggi. Hingga sebagian energi habis karena merisaukan perkara-perkara yang tak punya terminal henti.

Sementara gagal, banyak sekali interpretasinya. Masih melajang saat usia dua puluh lima, telah 'melahirkan' banyak hal tapi tak bisa ikut berkontribusi menambah jumlah angka manusia, memilih tak bekerja layaknya mereka di luar sana, tak ikut dalam circle orang-orang yang dianggap penting di dunia nyata.

Manusia seolah dipaksa berkompetisi, menggapai dan memamerkan sesuatu, sampai-sampai jadi candu apresiasi.

Sebetulnya, tak salah memberi kaki pada mimpi, tak salah menjejaki mimpi sesuai inginnya hati. Yang salah adalah ketika manusia kehilangan keyakinan dan kebaikan saat tak hidup dalam keberlebihan.

Kalo sudah begini, jangan-jangan lupa lega hati itu apa.

Keyakinan-keyakinan yang Tak Perlu Dikomersilkan

Beberapa waktu lalu, kami mengisi tangki bahan bakar mobil kami yang sudah mendekati 'garis' finish. Pada saat membayar sejumlah uang, entah kenapa mendadak saya agak memikirkan 'nilai' rupiah yang kami bayarkan. Uang seratus lima puluh ribu hanya menaikkan dua strip penunjuk BBM di speedometer ! Padahal beberapa tahun lalu, dengan jumlah uang yang sama, bisa digunakan untuk mengisi lebih dari itu.

Begitu cepatnya inflasi berjalan. Begitu banyak hal berubah, cepat atau lambat. Pelaku usaha makanan yang paling rentan menaikkan harga. Salah satu penjual di kedai makan langganan saya bahkan sempat berbisik : "Ayam gorengnya naik seribu, apa-apa serba naik". Cukup lega karena harganya masih masuk akal untuk para pekerja bangunan yang sering makan di kedai tersebut.


Sebab saya cukup yakin -makanan maupun bahan bakar- walaupun harganya selangit, tak akan pernah sepi, asal tetap menjanjikan 'kenikmatan' !

Menuju Tahun Ke Lima

Pernah nyaris tenggelam. Ombak hampir saja berkali-kali membalikkan kapal kecil kami dan mempersilakannya menenggelamkan hidup kami hingga karam. Tapi, kami bertahan. Berenang dalam ketidak-pastian akan datangnya pertolongan. Menggapai apapun sebisanya. Menggenggam papan kayu terdekat. Berpegangan. Bernafas walau tersengal-sengal. Bersama, berdua.

Dan kini bertiga....