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Hey there reader,

Kumusta ka na? 

It’s a question I’ve repeatedly both sent out and have been the recipient of in the past weeks, partly because it’s a nice thing to say and mostly because when the world has suddenly turned upside down, it's a question that’s both easy and difficult to ask and answer. 

I type this inside my bedroom, sitting on a folded yoga mat, while listening to what I’ve deemed to be my work-from-home-productivity playlist. We’re in the 4th week of a Luzon-wide lockdown, with about 3 more weeks to go before the national government re-evaluates the situation. The lockdown can end then or it could stretch further – and this isn’t an exaggeration, which is a lot coming from a girl who tends to err on the side of OA (overreacting, for you locals). 

Strangely enough, the past 3 weeks have been a blur – mornings blend into the afternoon blends into the evening blends into the morning. Weekdays blur into the weekend – it’s almost hard to tell how long last week was or if tomorrow is really just a night’s sleep away. 

It’s been a tiny struggle to keep sane – let alone productive – in the past few weeks, but here’s a few things I’ve mused about in the weeks we’ve spend in an “enhanced community quarantine:" 

Keep your mind active – and mind you, this doesn’t have to mean work productivity. Read a book, purchase a video game (Animal Crossing, what’s up!), learn how to cook your perfect adobo, try an online class or two, build your home gym (or start a makeshift one), marathon whatever you want, write that essay you’ve always wanted to write, meditate, talk to a friend, shoot your shot – do what you need to ground yourself.

Now, more than ever, I find that it’s easy for your mind to drift off to places you’d rather not go. 

Don’t fall into the cult of productivity. This is a point of privilege but hear me out. It bothers me when people simplify time in quarantine and isolation as a time to learn new things. I’ve seen a graphic says if you didn’t learn a new skill or two during the lockdown, you were just being lazy. That's unfair. 

These are not normal times. It isn't merely a very long weekend. There’s a virus going around, hospitals are overwhelmed, the immunocompromised live in fear, and government hasn’t exactly been the best at placating those fears. 

People are losing their livelihood, poor and low income households don’t have the luxury of stocking up, and the law is being bent in ways we didn’t know possible. It’s perfectly understandable to lose focus and feel guilty about simply being unable to function. Talk to your colleagues, seek out help (there are tons of resources), and allow yourself to be still if your living conditions allow you this luxury. It sounds corny but really: it’s okay not to be okay. 

Be kind. I’ve always surmised that kindness and patience are the most underrated of values. Too often, we’ve glorified being busy and hustling (this section and newsletter is, ironically and aptly, of course, named Hustle) – so much so that we actually forget to be decent human beings.

They say crisis is opportunity. I think it’s also an opportunity to check on which values actually matter the most to you. I’ve seen way too many posts devoid of self-awareness and kindness nowadays – it’s sickening and is not of any value to a world that’s already drowning in sorrow and hopelessness. 

For the record, poverty isn’t and will never be a choice. Physical distancing is a privilege. Stillness is a privilege. Having the time to reflect during a pandemic is a definite privilege. It’s in times like these when we must look both inward and outward – how can you, with all your flaws and advantages, help those who have little to nothing? 

The plea for kindness, of course, extends to one’s self. It’s okay to cry even when you don’t know why you’re crying – but just make sure you’re hydrated. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed and hopeless. And it’s definitely okay to ask help where you can, to help pull yourself out of that hopelessness. 


Be kind. 

Let me repeat that: be kind. 

When we emerge out of our homes after the lockdown, life won’t be the same. It shouldn’t be the same. I cannot and will not be able to say that everything’s going to be alright, but if we look out for ourselves and for each other, I’m guessing we’ll be better off than if we didn’t. 

So, dear reader, kumusta ka na? 

Bea 

(I’m serious – send us an email at hustle@rappler.com or send me an email at bea.cupin@rappler.com if you so wish. Replies not guaranteed but sometimes it helps to just let things out, right?)

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‼ ‼ Hello from Team Hustle ‼  ‼

Hustle is a motley crew of writers, producers, editors, and all-arounders from Rappler's lifestyle, tech, sports, and content production teams. In case you were wondering (and even if you weren't), here's a few of the people who are crazy enough to hustle through Hustle. 
Clockwise, from left to right: Yours truly, Pawi Bitanga, Bee Go, and Steph Arnaldo. We're definitely grateful to be safe, employed, and keeping it mostly together during this pandemic.

We hope you're doing ok too. 
Live Jam is back... ish! Check out our very first Live Jam from home with Laguna-based Turbo Mouse. 
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