Ki Killing Quarantine

Hey hey hey! I’m Kialond, a third-year UTeach Dance major at the University of Texas at Austin. Rona has ruined my plans for this past semester and this summer. I was looking forward to performing, being with friends, creating new choreography, and continuing to develop my craft. Covid-19 itself is annoying but its effect is devastating. I hate hearing the news about how many people have died and feeling the effects it has on my daily life. I realized that online classes are not for me. I had to force myself out of bed and find motivation just to login to class. However, quarantine has allowed me to meditate, spend time with family, and fully invest in self-care. I have been trying new face masks, getting rest, and experimenting with natural DIYs. Also, Mother's Day was wonderful, even though we stayed in, because we decorated the house like a restaurant and bought my mom mini bundt cakes. 

Along with adding new materials to my self-care regimen, I have started binge watching Netflix (I finally finished Money Heist), movies with my mom and grandmother (me and my grandmother have certain days that are for our quality time), and staying active through a workout app and movement that makes me feel good. After working out, I like to meditate and stretch to increase my flexibility and decrease my stress level. I also used this time to complete tasks that stimulate my mind, like crossword puzzles. Journaling is another thing that I’ve been spending this time to do. I often journal about how I feel, my spirituality, the future, and poetry. Being forced to quarantine is starting to feel necessary because it helped me find and discover new qualities I possess. There is something beautiful about pressing the pause button and getting to know yourself all over again.

My birthday pasted during this quarantine and I can’t wait ‘til fully celebrate it in any space that I want. On a different note, my sister bought me a puppy for my birthday. Her name is Alana!