Day 4 of Solitary Confinement - I am Quarantined
Hello dear friends and today many feel like family to me. I have been absent for a while for a few reasons.
A. Jet Lag
B. Disorientation
C. Self-Quarantine
D. Even More Disorientation
I scrambled literally out of Bali last Saturday 14th to catch the last flight from Bali to Malta via Doha. I really made it by a hair's breadth. I arrived to an airport that resembled a cemetry instead of the usual bustling airport and it was the last flight before all incoming flights were cancelled.
Once I arrived at the destination airport I was literally escorted by Special Forces wearing the appropriate gear - to my house and made to sign an affidavit that I would not leave before the 14 days were up. Food would be delivered.
And thus started my very silent and solitary adventure with myself for company.
So here are my two cents worth of thoughts over four very silent days.
I am lucky enough to live in a spacious apartment with a great view of the old Citadel. As I write I look out onto this ageless view - so I do not feel confined. Actually I am stimulated to think.
I have already come to a few conclusions.
I am not sure how many people will eventually become casualties of the virus on my little Island with just half a million people - BUT - I do know that plenty of small and medium sized businesses will be trampled over and will not survive.
I am sure that if there is going to be a total lock down by this weekend - that there will be more casualties from mental breakdown then there will be with infection.
Life as we knew it will never come back. The younger generation on this Island who have been brought up with instant gratification and who have no clue what it means to go without things - or who are used to being immediately employed because there were 20 jobs for one candidate - will now suffer and collapse.
And I am not over reacting. I am being factual.
Lost and Bewildered - Time to Re Think
Many people are totally misplaced. Travellers have been left scrambling and many foreign workers who are now without a job - do not even have the possibility of earning an income or even returning home.
Life is very fragile at the moment with the perfect resonance to have a little bit more humanity and really add a helping hand - even if it is a virtual one.
Events are Evolving Daily and Leaving Us Breathless - Every day there is a new measure and a new warning.
America has banned all travel from Europe.
Enhanced screening for fever with robots or humans is now a common occurance (I am told)
All travel outside the country is forbidden unless for urgent medical reasons that cannot be treated locally.
If you are an employer like myself - you need to see where you will get the cushion and buffer to safeguard your employees. So far no government aid has been forthcoming - other than postponement of paying tax dues.
If you sneeze you feel like a criminal!
WA My Saving Grace
Whereas my ideas are usally very well structured - this post may probably sound like I am rambling. But there is one thing that is my saving grace and that is the WA Community and Platform.
At moments I felt lost and like giving up. But the posts that are mostly always super motivating have spurred me on. Today, I posted my first post since a whole week on my blog and it felt good!
Thank you for being a positive force in my life. And thank you to all the nurses and doctors on this platform and anywhere in the world for being the real Guardian Angels in these unprecedented times.
Stay safe everyone.
Mariella
Recent Comments
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It's a dark time for the world. As much in social interaction as economically. I am lucky to be able to continue working with the children I care for by video conferencing and to live in a spacious place. But the world is not made to live to turn in on itself by closing the borders and isolating themselves from each other. I hope that we will get out of this disturbing period quickly.
Stay healthy!
Ingrid
That is wonderful Ingrid - at least you can still give value to the precious little ones. The joys of technology today. You too take care and stay safe
Hi Mariella, you are not rambling but writing very clearly about what we are all going through. I am lucky that I can work from home for my job but as a contractor I only have a few months left. Then who knows.. like you I am lucky to have a view from my home (I can see the ocean from my balcony), so I will not go too crazy from solitary confinement - not yet at least! We are so lucky to have the environment provided by WA and the purpose it provides. If anything this quarantine is giving me (and the WA community) more drive to focus on building our brands and sites, rather than waiting out the virus and hoping for the best.
So true - this is the time to learn and grow and not just survive but Thrive. Keep safe and well Krissy
It sounds like you're making the most of your quarantine situation, Mariella. I believe that how we respond to situations can make a huge difference in our futures, and it sounds like you're staying connected to WA and keeping things positive. I'm choosing to be productive and to use this time to move forward with my online business. I hope you and your business stay strong and healthy.
Best wishes to you! :)
Colleen
I am sure that this productive time at home will be paying off a lot later. Thank you for dropping by
Hi Baliluxurious. Good post again! We should thank all of those who look after others, they do a great service. I'm shopping today in Bournemouth and people are gathering still but not in great numbers. I know the in Holland it's a much tighter regime with allocated time slots and fines. Bless our freedom
Hi Dave - yes - but you should have heard the speeches of both Merkel and Mark Rutte (Holland) totally exceptional and inspirational
Hi. Yes, I have seen all the speeches made by all EU member states and they can be very influential and powerful. We have friends in France and people are being fined for going out. We have family in Brussels and Amsterdam and they are in quarantine and have set times that they can go out. I have a friend in Italy who needs written permission for leaving his home. At the moment the UK is free but it wont be for much longer.
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A very sober description of whats everyone is facing. This the challenge of a generation and how we weather it will determine the world that emerges on the other side of it. But I am optimistic that it will be as good world.
Thanks for the thoughtful post very sobering.
Hamish🧐
I agree. The strong minds will emerge stronger. This is a time for self-growth
An opportunity even stay safe Mariella 🧐
True. I’m in day 9 now and it’s becoming easier. Maybe it will last much longer and I’ll be prepared ☺️
I hear that a good claret and or champagne boosts immunity. I think that I made that up completely but please don’t tell my wife, I have her convinced 🧐
I kind of heard the same thing too.... that alcohol kills the virus - but probably any stomach acids would! and promise we won't tell her
😂🤣😂🤣🧐