Charlotte.
Name:
Charlotte Rainville
Occupation:
I’m a freelance photographer, calligraphist, graphic designer, and illustrator based in Montreal, Canada. I’m also a University student; I’m currently completing my first year as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography at Concordia.
Days in isolation:
Close to 50 days? I think?
Current mind frame\ thoughts about COVID-19:
I’m definitely fed up of being in isolation and bummed that I can’t go through with my travel plans for the summer of 2020 (I had been planning and saving up for the past two years to go to a couple of African countries and Portugal). However, I am very grateful for everyone around me and myself being healthy, for having everything I need and for not be going through difficult times during this period like many people are. I’m lucky because I get to take this isolation time as “me time.” I don’t have to take care of sick family members and friends or be grieving because of a COVID death like many are (my thoughts go out to those of you who are experiencing difficulties right now). Generally speaking, I’m trying to find a way to use my privilege for a good purpose, right now.
What gets me out of bed:
Buttered baguette bread with turnover eggs and homemade onion-cilantro-lime guacamole on top.
Four things that have kept me sane throughout isolation:
1.
Focusing on my interpersonal relationships and making more time for them: I’ve been spending loads of time with my family (which I usually never get to do). I’ve also been spending at least one hour every day with friends, Face-timing them and (even though I’m not really supposed to) going on walks with them (2 meters away from each other). Spending time with those I love has been awesome and laughing with my friends always makes my day.
I’ve also been trying to show people how thankful I am that they’re in my life. In regular day to day non-quarantine life, things move so fast that you barely have time to truly appreciate people and tell them often how great you think they are. Updating myself on my loved ones’ latest news and thanking them for being them more often has been cool. I really encourage anyone reading this to send out non-instant texts (handwritten letters, e-mails, etc.) to those they love. It’s been my favourite activity during quarantine.
2.
Adopting a healthier lifestyle: Ever since quarantine has started, I’ve been working out every day (it’s a journey, let me tell you, lol), eating more mindfully (not snacking at night, for example), going outside a lot and getting full nights of sleep, which has been amazing.
3.
Getting in touch with my spiritual/mindful thinking: I started meditating with the Headspace app when I’m lying in the sun or chilling in my bath. I also started journaling again (gratitude writing prompts, making my own “a question a day” notebook, etc.) and have been learning more about Tarot readings, astrology, and intuition, too!
4.
The Internet: The online world has been my happiness oasis. It reminds me that life is different when quarantine isn't going on and it's making me think of all the things I used to take for granted (sipping on a boozy drink in a park with many people, being able to travel in the summer, making spontaneous plans, etc.) and making me look at them from a different light. The Internet has been encouraging me to make an action plan to accomplish the great things I would like to do in my life and has been a serious wake-up call to how privileged I am. I've always known I was privileged, but it only got more evident in the past month or so.
I’ve also been catching up on online shows and movies I’ve been wanting to watch for ages (How to Get Away with Murder, Love Island, Temptation Island, etc.) and it’s been so entertaining!
I’ve also caved in and created a Tiktok account. Let’s just say it’s become my new addiction. It’s such a creative app and so many people on there make me laugh until my tummy hurts. It’s nice.
For my photographic practice as a freelancer, the internet has been the biggest help and inspiration as well. I’ve been getting inspiration for new photographic projects through Pinterest and Fotoroom and learning how to code my own website. I also started reblogging aesthetic photographs on my emo Tumblr again and have been actively applying for grants and funding opportunities to forward my art practice.
Instagram handle: @jailli