It’s been 9 months since Malaysia implemented a cordon sanitaire known as The Movement Control Order (MCO). Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the world has been living a new norm ever since. People across the globe have no choice but to adapt to new policies and it has to stay that way for a longer period of time if we wish to go to how things were before. Changes in lifestyle apply to many for the sake of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) given by the government to ensure that everyone is safe. This took a toll in our important activities such as visiting family members in different areas, long road trips with our friends and most importantly, ordering food after 10.00 p.m. Personally, this took some time for me to get used to. But after a while, I made some realizations that I am quite happy with.

1. Why wait?
   
   
   The first issue that I had to deal with was to accept just how much I am not in control over things that I feel like I am. It is scary to think that anything could happen even if I wasn’t doing anything that would affect other people. But somehow, this motivated me to check off everything on my bucket list as soon as I can, knowing some of the things that I have been wanting to do won’t be as easy anymore. I realized that I shouldn’t be waiting for opportunities to come to me, instead, I should be chasing them down. While following the SOPs of course.


2. Letting go
   
   
   Besides that, I also realized that I didn't need to do certain things that I do a lot nor did I want to. I noticed that I was mentally in a mess and I couldn’t allow myself to clutter my mind with unnecessary thoughts. This is when I decided to go off social media. I figured I could find better things to do rather than scrolling through OOTDS’ . Not missing out on much I don’t think. It is embarrassing to admit but I did take into consideration what my followers think of me. But during the lockdown, there were only a handful of people that I could really rely on. Only their opinions matter to me now. To an extent. Sometimes I don’t really care. Please imagine me saying that with love.


3. Gotta work
   
   
   I also realized that I was not happy with where I was. I wanted better. I wanted to work and live on my own so that I can have the freedom that I wanted. And at the time that was a hard goal to achieve as companies were not looking to hire new employees and even letting them go. It did not seem like it was a possibility, but I had to convince myself otherwise.


4. Stronger connection
   
   
   Other than that, now every time I spend time with my close circle, I appreciate it just that bit more. Barely use my phone, actually care about what they’re saying, and we plan things that are somewhat productive. Instead of just going to cafes. Now everyone shares that same desire to check off everything on their bucket list too. And that can be very fun to be a part of.
   
   
   Some people handled the MCO differently. I asked around just to see if I could get interesting answers and I wasn’t disappointed. Majority of them prioritized getting used to being alone. Which is something that I find very difficult. I would always want to surround myself with a close circle which isn’t a really big one. But this lockdown helped me get over that. And it also made me realize that I can be a very annoying friend. Sorry guys.
   
   
   All in all, the MCO and lockdowns all around the world was definitely the break that mother nature needed and wake-up call that humans needed too. It really got me thinking and feeling a certain way. Crazy innit..?