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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider My 'creative pusher' guided me through COVID-19

My 'creative pusher' guided me through COVID-19

Published Sep 3, 2021 12:50 am
SURVIVOR’S TALE (The author is a senior graphic designer working at a home furnishings company in the UAE for 12 years now. ) I've been wanting to take a break from work. My husband and I have been away from home for three years now because of the pandemic. Since traveling abroad is now difficult, I’ve opted to take my leave in the UAE instead of having a vacation in the Philippines. Almost every day, I think about taking a leave but I keep putting it off because we're hoping the situation will get better and we can travel back home. No doubt, my "creative pusher" knows me very well. I just can't let go of the workaholic in me. One day, I felt feverish and chilly. Thinking it was ordinary fever and cough, I still went to work to finish the artworks due for that day. It was Thursday. And Thursdays are crucial for businesses here. All deadlines must be met on that day to maximize sales on weekends. That Thursday went like an ordinary working day; busy as a bee as if I was not sick. Chills and backpain increased as that day ended. Naturally, I had to see the doctor but even before I could go, my housemate was tested COVID positive. For some reason, I felt calm and at peace when I heard about it. My husband was somewhat worried but was pacified when he saw that I looked stronger than he thought I would be. His worries were valid because I was already sick. I could also be COVID positive! At that time we were already scheduled for the second dose of vaccine and he was anxious that we will have to wait for another three months if we were infected. So we went for PCR test. I was COVID positive too! It was crazy but I felt happy at that time. I was not making sense, was I? I could imagine my "creative pusher" telling me: "So you want to take rest badly but you have grown to be a real workaholic? You've been wanting to travel so badly but the current situation is not allowing it? Let's use the pandemic as your resting time!" I felt grateful. I also felt blessed not only because I would be having 10 to 14 days of "rest." But most importantly because I believe He already prepared my heart for this. Sure, this was a serious matter but I was at peace then. I was sleeping soundly in the midst of the storm. Before this happened, for some reason, I started memorizing two Bible verses about fear and one was from Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." That must have been the source of my strength. I believe I was still rejoicing even if I was coughing hard because it was His grace that helped me to see clearly that this quarantine is a staycation in disguise. He nurtured more trust in my heart which made me rely more on His strength and grow a mindset that He is way bigger than COVID-19. He also made sure my husband tested negative so that he could take care of me well. I was blessed indeed! I even found my cough funny. During the whole the day it was with me. But during bed time, the cough was not there,  gave me needed space to breath. I slept soundly. I thought: He is a perfect planner. A creative pusher!

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