The lockdown is in full effect in Rishikesh and all over India until April 15 (updated to May 3).
I went to the “grocery” store today, which is essentially a convenient store, to get some food. I stood in line to go in since there is only enough room for a small amount of people. One comes out, one goes in. Felt a bit like the pictures I’ve seen of the soup lines during the Great Depression.
Cereal, cookies, and ramen was about all I could get. They closed shortly after I was there since there’s an imposed schedule for when they can be open.
Only grocery stores and medical supply stores are open — no restaurants, nor is there food delivery. I plan to talk to the owner of my hotel tomorrow to see if I can work out a daily meal or two of eggs and toast although the restaurant here at the hotel is closed as well. They made me an omelet today so there’s hope. 🤞🏻
Side Note: Korean ramen is spicy as hell.
Appreciate the messages from friends and family asking if everything is okay.
All in all, it is.
I have shelter. I have water. I have food (with questionable expiration dates). I’m writing, exercising, meditating, and keeping in touch with friends and family, as well as maximizing the use of my Netflix account.
I also don’t feel like I “shouldn’t” be here if that makes any sense, considering so many countries are locked down or in the process of locking down.
This is where I am so this is where I will be.
Continuing to practice acceptance and good ol’ gratitude for everything that’s going right when it’s easy to point out all that’s going wrong.
Hoping to come out of this lockdown a better version of myself because as a friend once told me years ago during a particularly difficult point in my life:
“Use this time to do what you love.”
I’ve considered that solid advice which has been and continues to be applicable in every moment I’ve experienced.
Wishing everyone good thoughts and positive vibes wherever you find yourselves these days.