How Has Quarantine Been For You?

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When they vote for the most frequently used words of 2020, surely quarantine must be a front runner. The pandemic sweeping the globe has meant that it has jumped onto our lips and out of our mouths on a regular basis. Most of us have experienced lockdown from behind closed doors, watching our television sets as the world as we know it changes, perhaps irrevocably. We have been powerless to intervene. We have been in quarantine.

There have been perks. More time with our loved ones, endless home improvement opportunities and Netflix bingeing of epic proportions. I managed to edit my second novel and secured a publishing contract. Every cloud has a silver lining. But that does not distract from the terrible q pop physical, mental and economic toll coronavirus has had our nations and communities. We live in broken lands where nothing is what it was. Will it ever be again?

The word ‘quarantine’ derives from the Italian word ‘quranato’ meaning forty. This related to when ships entering Venice were not allowed to unload their cargoes for forty days to ensure they were not bringing disease into the city. The number ‘forty’ also has significant Biblical connotations. The number of years the Israelites spent in the wilderness, the number of days Jesus was tempted by Satan and before he ascended into Heaven. Days and years of waiting, of preparation.

As we emerge into the ‘new normal‘ how has quarantine affected you? The long wait is over for many of us but what are we now going to do with our lives? Is it back to the old bad habits and decisions or are we considering a new beginning, a fresh start? How has your faith been affected? Has it vanished, been damaged, or grown and thrived? Hoping you have a good day wherever you are in this crazy, mixed-up world we now inhabit.

Published by Fractured Faith Blog

We are Stephen and Fionnuala and this is our story. We live in Northern Ireland, have been married for 17 years and have three kids - Adam, Hannah and Rebecca. We hope that our story will inspire and encourage others. We have walked a rocky road yet here we are today, together and stronger than ever. We are far from perfect and our faith has been battered and bruised. But an untested faith is a pointless faith. Just as a fractured faith is better than none at all. We hope you enjoy the blog.

47 thoughts on “How Has Quarantine Been For You?”

  1. Quarantine for me I think has been better than for many. I have cultivated habits of productivity; playing guitar every day and making progress on my writing of poetry, novels, and personal development. I have been back in contact with friends I had not seen for years.

    When New Zealand moved out of a more strict lockdown (at least for a time as we have moved back into vigilant mode) I missed having fewer choices to make.

    As always, thank you for sharing and encouraging productive thought processes.

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  2. As a part of a supply chain deemed essential, I have gone to work with 400 other people at our facility every day. The demand for our product grew while our staff dwindled. This meant 12-14 hours at work each day was our new normal. No time for Netflicks, projects or deep introspection. It was peculiar to be so busy at work while the world around us shut down. Daily exercise routines were disrupted, but I found places to run and ride. As facilities opened, it helped me return to past practices and add swimming to the mix. Through it all I’ve felt a bit like I was looking at the quarantine from outside the protective bubble. Strange times indeed.

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  3. My quarantine experience is probably different than how most people would view this as. I’m not a terribly positive person, but I’ve found the benefits easer to look at: I have more time with my family, I get to indulge in writing projects I never would have created otherwise, and I went back to playing my instruments again. I am worried about the virus of course and I hope it may one day just be a distant nightmare, but I admit that being in quarantine provided me with these opportunities.

    Downsides: Getting stir-crazy, wanting to interact with real people, canceling Doctor’s appointments because of the rise of COVID-19 cases.

    It feels good to get this off my chest. I doubt I’m the only one who feels this way, so I thank you for the opportunity to share.

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  4. Lots of small things have changed, nothing very impactful really. I wear masks when I go out now, its not a big deal but how many times have I had to go back to my car to get it? LOL. There are 2 major impacts though, one negative, one positive.

    Positive: I am working from home. I am around family more, the dog loves it, the house is more peaceful and balanced in almost every way. All of us get a long better now then we did, its been an unexpected outcome for sure.

    Negative: I havent been able to go to the gym. I know I could work out at home. For many of us, the gym is more then a place to work out, its a huge social outlet, it is for me anyway. I’ve missed it a lot and part of resents not being able to manage my own risk in this regard. I understand why, Im not arguing it should or should not be open. Its just been the single biggest negative for me in this whole situation.

    All in all its been fine, we’ll survive.

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  5. Mine started out badly. I was on a medication that caused anxiety and forgetfulness. Quarantine magnified these symptoms. I was a wreck until I got off it! I have done a lot of home improvement projects, and got a dog for company, because I live alone. Now I’m trying to expand these good habits and go back to regular blogging again. I have a book I’m editing for a client as well. The key is to stay busy, turn off the news, and pray a lot.
    At present, my area is probably facing a second wave in the next month. School just started, and several districts in my area are having in-person classes. I’m staying in, probably at least until January. The boss said they might mandate I go back to the office then.

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  6. While I’ve personally been okay during the pandemic, my heart breaks at what’s happened to my country at the hands of a corrupt man occupying the White House. Our reputation is in tatters and we are pitied around the world. Now we have to fight just to have an honest election to boot his butt out of there and into jail.

    The real upside for me? I’ve leaned into my faith like I never have. My request? Prayers from our friends around the world to deliver us from the madness.

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  7. True, 40 is a cleansing number biblically speaking. In the Exodus, it took 40 years of wandering to cull the faithless older folks (die off of natural and miraculous causes).
    Similarly, this virus affects (most) children negligibly. It’s us older folks and system compromised that need to be concerned. Children will (likely) develop an immunity or fighting chance…while the rest of us older or compromised will need to show due diligence to avoid the inevitable. Masks, overt hand washing and actively sending the sick home will be a thing for the foreseeable future.
    By design, faith is not based on what we see or how we might assess, or accuse God…..especially in cases of naturally occurring events. Either we believe in the eternal or we do not.
    Stay safe.

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  8. Woo boy, 2020 has been quite a (bad) year. Right now I don’t even have the words to describe it.
    Quarantine has been met with a LOT of binge watching on Netflix and Hulu. I went stir crazy at one point (who hasn’t? LOL)
    The mask wearing has irritated me to no end because I wear glasses and the fogging up of the glasses gets annoying.

    In all seriousness though, this year has been met with a lot of heartbreak, a lot of tears. My heart goes out to everyone who has been affected.

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    1. Leigh, about the mask, what type do you have? I have had that problem because of the type of mask I was wearing. I bought these type of ones (cloth) that cover my nose more, so it doesn’t fog up my glasses that much (at least when compared to regular face masks).

      Lol. I’ve watched a bit on Netflix too.

      Yeah, 2020 has been awful. I’m hoping for this year to end, as well with that 2021 is not a continuation of the virus. It’s scary to think about.

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      1. I have several different types. I keep them in my purse and just sort of grab one. I think today my problem was that I had been in my air conditioned car and stepped out into the heat which fogged them up, lol.

        I sure can’t wait til we can stop with the whole mask wearing.

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      1. I went through all 9 seasons of One Tree Hill (SUCH a good show! I was an extra on one of the episodes in season 6. You barely see me though. But it was STILL so much FUN!) I’m now watching Dawson’s Creek, almost through with it.

        I discovered a new show called Get Even. It is a half hour show and there were only 10 episodes so far. I literally watched it in 2 days. LOL
        Let’s see…oh! Sweet Magnolias was really good.

        Hmm…I think I need to get back to more writing and less binge watching. LOL

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  9. Due to my husband’s health not a lot was different, except the invasive fear and the inability to visit with family. That’s been hard. In some ways my faith has been strengthened and I live on hope. I don’t think things will be or can be the same as per-quarantine. How could it be. This pandemic has wreaked havoc economically on many nations, cities, families. It has shifted how we view life (well, for most of us) and helped us view our values differently (I sincerely hope).

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  10. I came home from my son’s wedding in The Philippines and the entire staff at our church was sick with something (we all think it was COVID but of course no one was being teated in February). I ended up with double pneumonia and literally lost a week of consciousness.Then I was out of commission for about 6 weeks regaining my strength. This was a really good reset time for me as I already understood that this was going to be a year of change for my personal ministry. I transitioned out of worship leading ( a professional track I have followed for 36 years) and I have moved into being the on line pastoral support for our church. I went from being paid as a full time associate pastor to being a pastoral volunteer at our church. My full time gig is caring for my Mom whose health has taken a turn.
    I believe that the church world is being forever changed by this pandemic and other societal forces and that this change is not only necessary but good. This is hard and tragic but it is also not the first time God has taken something hard and tragic in my life and turned it into something good. I believe with all my heart He will do it again.

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  12. Quarantine has a positive effect on my family, which is a big blessing. I launched my blog and I finished swim lessons. It’s been good where I live. I’m very thankful!

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  13. Quarantine has been a blessing above all else. I was in a job I felt trapped at with people who used anyone not of power. I was surrounded by people whom I had grown to think of as friends but felt…hhmmm… maybe not? Being isolated opened my eyes to so many truths, what matters, who matters. I was able to finally leave that job permanently and weed out the fake friends and family, which I probably would not have done without this shift. I did have a severe mental breakdown but through yoga, meditation, strength training and writing I have been able to get it in control and continue to move forward with this next chapter…whatever it may be🙏🏼

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  15. I’m over in California, so quarantine has been exciting on multiple fronts. On the one hand, I’m grateful to be in a situation where I can work from home and be alright. The state’s taking this situation seriously.

    On the other hand, the tyrannical dirt bag we have for president is still in charge and more people continue to die and suffer.

    I hope you and your family stay safe as the landscape continues to change and adapt to this new normal…!

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  16. My husband lived in the garden during lockdown. I cooked,and baked, and made the cupboard stretch to avoid having to shop more than once every eight days or so. I did NaPoWriMo in April, which I have done since 2017, so it was an old routine, writing a poem a day. I walked to the local holy well most every day for my daily exercise. And we found it quite easy to stay within 2km since we live in rural splendour with plenty of social distance built in. Also, we were grateful to the young neighbour who insisted on helping with shopping, getting things not provided by our local shop within the 2km zone. Such acts of communal solidarity are so precious. Long may that last!

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  17. The quarantine period has been a journey, of growth and self reflection. As an introvert it has been a struggle because while I don’t mind staying at home, staying cooped up at home, with everyone at the same time for an extended period of time ( without the usual breaks of work, school ,
    church, social events, e.t.c) has been a struggle and harder than I thought it would be. Thankfully, I have a voucher that I am to redeem soon for a solo night at a nice hotel, for some much needed recharge.

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