If you haven’t noticed already, we’re stuck in our houses and it’s getting really boring. There isn’t much to do except sleep and eat. We’re probably all going to end up looking like the people from Wall-E by the end of this. Since you’re most likely running out of things to do, here’s what I’ve been doing in quarantine:

If you have read my “About Me” article, you know that I play golf. Since golf is one of the only activities allowed now, I have been spending a lot of time practicing and playing. This time out of school has been beneficial to my golf game. I broke 80 for the first time during the first week of quarantine, which–if you don’t know much about golf–is a very exciting milestone for a teen golfer. My distances have increased, and I’m starting to beat my dad on almost a consistent basis. I’ve been able to use this time to improve my game, so, when the world starts to function again, I’ll be tournament ready. I’ve also been getting outside more. I’ve been going for walks and runs around my block and on the greenway. I’ve gone to Shelley Lake a few times as well to get a change of scenery. I would definitely recommend going there during this time. It’s a tranquil trail, and if you’re lucky, there’s a chance of seeing a bald eagle perched next to its nest about halfway around the lake.

I’ve also been doing things a little out of the ordinary, finding myself doing things I wouldn’t normally do to keep things exciting while I’m stuck in my house. Earlier this week, I finally dyed my hair pink after months of trying to convince my parents. I’ve also been painting, which is rare for me because I am not a crafty person. I’ve been painting things to hang in my room with my favorite artist’s names written on them or my favorite albums. I painted a canvas for my friend’s birthday, and I made a couple more to decorate our house for different holidays. I made the impulsive decision to put more LED lights in my room, which wasn’t my best idea because now it looks unbalanced, but it’s starting to grow on me. 

Aside from these various activities, I’ve been listening to some podcasts as well. I’ve been binge-listening to Serial. I listened to season three first, and I learned a lot. It changed my perspective of the criminal justice system. I’ve always known that there are flaws, but I’ve never known about those flaws in-depth. That season was very inspiring and I would recommend it to everyone with a brain. I finished season three and started season two, but the first episode wasn’t very interesting to me. If it were any other podcast I would have listened to the second and third episodes to see if maybe the first was a fluke, but the third season had me hooked in the first ten minutes of the first episode, so I moved on to the first season. Out of the two that I’ve listened to, the first season was my favorite. The podcast is addicting, but it’s definitely worth the time. 

I hope this might have inspired you to try something new during quarantine. Stay home and stay safe! 

Much love, 

Vivian Shillingsburg and the Heritage Herald