It's been what? day 14? 15? of community quarantine and at this point, even those who are so used to staying at home or maybe even the introverts who have been trained for this their entire life already feel uneasy. I thought the quarantine would be no different for me, but honestly, it is.

First, my all-expense paid trip to Vietnam was cancelled. Second, I just had a haircut and I will never get the chance to show off my Dora the Explorer fringe in public. So before this gets long enough for me to cut again, I'll share this now while I still don't look like Spock.

It has been a decade since I did when-boredom-strikes selfies. Konti na lang magti-TikTok na ako.

Third, I'm running out of skin care essentials. Fourth, the gas tank's full but there's nowhere to go. Fifth, this list can go on.

Recently, I also find myself checking the fridge over and over again in hopes that something else shows up other than the unknown mysteries I discovered in it—probably the nasty kind that have been there since God knows when that even my inner cleaning lady would dare not touch.

The quarantine period has not gotten me as productive as I should be. The intricately designed cobwebs I found on my book shelf and the ever-growing laundry I said I'll do two weeks ago will tell you so. Instead, I spent a stupid amount of time fussing over how a week's worth of my favorite strawberry biscuits were gone in one go.

Yep.

I know I may sound like an ass for yapping about life's petty inconveniences unworthy of strong emotions at a time like this. But hey, if you are reading this, chances are you have also found yourself guilty of complaining about the same insignificant problems like going ballistic over a slow internet connection or even a lost ballpen.

So if you got first-world problems even if you are living in a third-world country, you do not need to feel guilty or ashamed about it. Just because you have a roof over your head and food on the table does not mean you are not allowed to feel frustrated because others have it worse. Who says your trivial complaints are not valid? If you need a little huff and puff for your own sanity, then by all means, do so. Process your feelings no matter how small you think it is. Your mental health will thank you later.