As the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to develop in Aruba, many residents struggled to stay indoors. This piece explored the underlying mechanisms that may shed light on the challenges faced by a population when they’re asked to abstain from behaviors deeply rooted in their culture.

A population that primarly thrives on the outside, may struggle when forced to be inside. Nevertheless, the piece suggests this is no ordinary population. This population—when asked to dig deeper in order to survive—will retreat. It would seem, that when it’s all said and done, only those who have used the time to cultivate their inner strength will persevere when it’s time to venture back outside.