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Trying new things to make a seed grow is a trial and error process. Some may fail where it wouldn't do anything to it, and some may succeed where you would see evident changes to the seed you have planted.
It occurs the same thing to me. I was able to determine which things have sincerely made me happy and allowed me to discover new things about myself, so I retained and continued doing those things.
But, of course, there would always be a calm before the storm. When you thought that the seed would continue to flourish and grow beautifully, that's when sunshine would hide and you'll forget to water it.
I thought everything was going fine with how I live during the pandemic, that's when I felt the slump in the road. I felt lifeless, I was lazy to do anything, and basically, I just felt hopeless about when the pandemic was going to end.
Even if I thought the different media were my companion in the time of the pandemic, it was also the reason why I was being held back. I spent most of my time on social media to the point that I became sleepless. I am close to being addicted to watching videos and reading Wattpad stories. It also became my habit to read magazines and books at night with only a lamp as a source of light. Alongside with that was the academic frustration during the first year of online classes that were completely new to me and I seriously had a hard time adjusting.

The attached picture shows the result of being irresponsible with myself and my reckless usage of media.

P.S. I was so horrified when I had a hard time seeing things and breathing suddenly. Even if I didn't expose myself to the outside world, I was worried that I would be diagnosed with anything unwantable, like Co-Vid.

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Spotify helped me to brighten my day and be energized or motivated to do things since the music I listen to heavily affects my mood.

Aside from music, podcasts on Spotify helped me realize that I am not alone and my feelings are valid since I am not the only one who suffers from the pandemic. Few podcasts I listen to also give me lessons that affected the way I live and my perspectives about my life and myself. One of the podcasts I listen to is SELFLOVE PODCASTS by Ria Lex

Attached is the link which is my favorite Spotify playlist. :))

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Even if you now have the knowledge of how to maintain the condition of your plant, you should not limit yourself to making it experience other things in order for its roots to be deep and have a strong foundation.
As well as for me. I am still open to experiencing new things and writing new chapters to my own story. Even if the pandemic continues, I would not let anything hinder me to grow continuously. Of course, I still have to know my limits and know the regulations during the pandemic.

I am still a seed and I will soon be a plant who went through thunders and sunshines. I am still a seed who still have a long way to go to be a plant.

This is Mickyla Almadin, and this is my Stories on Pandemic.

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After those few months of doing the basic things that a seed needed in order to start to grow, you would probably notice that there was only minimal growth to it. You could merely see if the seed was indeed growing. Then, you would make a decision of trying new things to make your seed grow.
In my case, I couldn't continue keeping in touch with my friends because we have our own lives. I also can't always bond with my family because they have their responsibilities. I also can't continue doing the things that I love because I started to grow tired of it. With that, I tried making a new routine or habit and most of the things I've done are media. I read new books, I tried baking, I started working out, I dyed my hair for the first time, and basically tried things that I never knew I would try.

Attached above was a video clip when I tried making a meringue when I saw its recipe online.
+the meringue tasted great!

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Just like any process in growing a plant, the first few days were calm. All you have to do is to water the seed, give proper sunlight and shower it with attention. Just the basic things that a seed needed.
That's what I did with the first few months of the pandemic. I was calm and I surrounded myself with people that I endear. I have been in contact often with my friends through video calls, I bond with family at home, and did things I love such as playing with my dogs.

Attached above shows the memorable time of having a video chat with my best friend.

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Of course, after the storm, there's a rainbow. After a seed goes through drought and hardship, you would know now you're mistakes and now, you would try your best to keep your seed in perfect condition.
The same for myself, after knowing my shortcomings and flaws, I now strive to avoid making the same mistakes.
Just like one line in the song Permission to Dance by BTS, I no longer have to worry cause when I fall, I know how to land.
Especially in this time of the pandemic, risk and danger do not solely based on the outside, but also the way you live.
Even if I earned a lesson the hard way, at least, I could stress out the importance of keeping myself great and healthy, and knowing how to use the media in a good way. Just like Sir Neil said, I should control my way of using the media, not the media controlling me.
How did I do that?

I monitored my screen time to social media.

I don't let what I see in the media affect me greatly, except for those who have good intention and purposes.

I limit myself to how many episodes I could only watch, and how many chapters I could only read per day.

I plan my day well with proper time allocation for important tasks or what I wanted to do in that day, and let myself breath/rest for the rest of the day.

I became keen and tactful if the media I use are factual or shows bluff, and  if their purpose is good or bad.

With my realizations, I am now more free-spirited and currently living in the moment without overthinking the future. The future remains unpredictable, especially to when the pandemic will end. The least that I could do is to live productively and freely, and living my mantra in life which is "do things that your past self will be proud of and your future self be thankful for."

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As the pandemic started almost 2 years ago, I came to realize that the beginning was indeed hard and everything in the future seems a lot more unpredictable. With that, I would like to compare myself to a plant. The beginning of the pandemic was when the seed of the plant I am was planted. Just like a seed, my growth is unpredictable and my journey to becoming a plant would have a lot of turns and definitely not a walk in the park.

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I love this podcast. It allows you to realize your worth and give importance to the lesson that no one else can love and have you best than yourself.

If ever you want to listen to the podcast, I attached the Spotify link that will allow you to be directed to the podcast. :))

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Through the television, I and my family could watch the news to get updates and information about the ongoing pandemic and what are the changes in the country's protocols and regulations that we need to follow. Also, the television also helps my family to bond by watching films, series, and TV shows.

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These two social media platforms helped me to socialize with other people and keep in touch with my loved ones, especially my father who's working in Manila. Other than that, these two helped me to realize that I am not alone, and I have friends who I wanted to remind that I am there for them and I know they wouldn't hesitate to do the same for me.

Attached to this post is my favorite video clip of my family's video call through messenger during my father's birthday.

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I could call myself a book worm and the silence that the pandemic had caused in my life, books and magazines allowed me to escape the reality and enter a whole new different world.

Most books I've read are romance and tragic books. Recently, I'm into self-help books like Ikigai and A Little Life. All of those that I had read implicated life lessons that I think that I would be using in my own life.

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Before the pandemic, I rarely open or use Youtube, but now, my source of entertainment almost completely relies on Youtube since this platform is diverse.

It also helps me to be updated with different social issues and global updates. Also, to search for tutorials; cooking tutorials, baking tutorials, drawing tutorials, to enhance my skills.

Attached above is the photo collage of the food I had cooked and baked.
+ my improving baking skills allowed me to help my mother on her baking business.