From my bedroom on the fourth floor, I can see the treetops swaying in the sunny time breeze, and I can feel the warmth of the sunlight spilling onto my lap.
For those of us staying in apartment buildings, every leg of the journey, from the apartment front door to the outside world, could increase our chances of catching the virus. The narrow hallways and small elevators could put us too close to our neighbours and their germs; door handles and buttons carry yet more risk.
I discovered my balcony which reflected the value and a kind of personal space as a precious commodity to me. My balcony connected me to the streets and the outdoors. My life was full of livability, lovability, mental health, peace, and serenity which had become more apparent now more than ever. It symbolized a kind of new freedom for me to embrace social isolation without feeling trapped and to enjoy fresh air without worrying about breathing in the virus.
In the last couple of weeks, sitting in the balcony has served as a brief escape from the tedium of quarantine. The amusement of seeing an empty road with deafening silence, only filled with sounds of chirping birds has brought a great solace for me and my soul.