The Life Journey of a Nobody

Alright, I'll be honest. Covid-19 DOESN'T CHANGE MY routine, IT DOESN'T AFFECT my life. source: twitter I still eat three meals a day, enjoying the same snacks. I still have the money to shop at the supermarket and find everything I need to survive, from food to toilet paper (which I don't really need that much). Even my children can still safely play in the yard! They can still have fun, fill their tummy, and sleep well! My scholarship is still flowing in (even though it is only enough for my living expenses here). My monthly salaries from Indonesia are still routinely sent every month (although it's value is reduced drastically when exchanged to dollars, D). My husband can keep his job, too, though it's not a high-paying one. The point is, instead of lacking, I feel very fulfilled. And. . . I realized HOW 'PRIVILEGED' I am! Not that I have zero problems, zero debt, or zero burden. I lead a normal life, with all its burden! HOWEVER, CO

Is PhD really a lonely journey? The answer to that will vary, depending on our perspectives. Being quite spiritual and religious myself, I might for example argue that life in itself is actually a lonely journey.  We were born alone to this world (even those with a twin did not come "together" out of their mother's womb), and we will die a lonely death. But, I am aware of the fact that loneliness has some positive and negative ramifications. Most of the time, it is viewed negatively, and as such bears negative consequences. I recently watched a news report telling about how older people who are lonely tend to die earlier than those who are not. Sad. What about PhD journeys? There is no absolute yes or no answer to that. For me, embarking this journey with two little kids and a husband made me feel like it is actually a crowded journey--mostly in a positive sense. errantscience.com I visualize this journey as one that I venture on a small boat enough for one