Looking forward to the year, Enakshi tells us how we are reacting to the pandemic. An exclusive for Different Truths.
It is almost the end of the first month of 2021 yet there has been no respite from the Covid-19 situation. How strange I felt when people seemed quite optimistic during the last week of December stating that the new year will bring new hope and the virus might just become so tired of troubling mankind! There were several memes doing rounds. One kind mocked the people who were relying on the new calendar to solve the problem of the pandemic, while the other mocked those who did not see the light at the end of the dark tunnel. Which kind was I? Well, I am still trying to figure it out!
Knowing that the pandemic is not over and that with new strains in the air, the virus now has an upper hand on us, it would not be wrong to be a little scared but at the same time, more prepared for what the future has in store for us. Even though the mind refuses to be hopeful, the heart urges to remain sane by having faith.
The news channels have gone berserk with their own political agendas. The vaccination drive has been working in full swing, but it seems like a distant dream for people like you and me who are not the frontline warriors! So, with almost no changes in the circumstances, it is quite difficult to gather courage and believe that the scattered pieces of our life are eventually, going to fall in place. Yet, I made an effort to mull over this and came up with a list of learnings and the positives that are common for all.
- The pandemic taught us to be more careful, take more precautions, spend more time in the house, spend time with family and get used to the new hygienic routine.
- The pandemic did put all the travel plans at a halt yet it made us realize the importance of waiting for what we desperately want and then when there is an opportunity, grabbing it by the horns.
- It made us realize the importance of maintaining a fine balance between professional and personal life.
- It helped people hone their other interests and pursue their passion. It is not surprising why social media has been flooded with new fitness coaches, cooks, artists, writers, and mental health coaches.
- It prevented people from binging on outside food. Rather, the fear of getting infected urged people to try healthier recipes and work on themselves.
The grass always looks greener on the other side. When the lockdown was announced, we missed the old normal of going out, hugging others, spending time outdoors, and destroying nature. Now when the workplaces are planning to call back their employees and start reviving the old normal gradually, we are already nostalgic about the lockdown! Strange ways in which the human mind works, isn’t it?
I think it is time we understand that change is inevitable and that it is imperative for us to embrace what the future holds for us. That way, we will be better prepared and not lose our sanity if something unpremeditated was to happen. The classical poets often emphasised the importance of finding true happiness and not waste time running behind intangible satisfaction.
With this pandemic, several doors have closed but more opportunities to understand oneself have opened. Right from understanding the likes and dislikes, identifying the passion to developing qualities like patience, humility, and adaptability – the experience has been one hell of a ride. Hence, I am in full support of the ones who look at the glass half-full, the ones who are hopeful that the new year will bring new beginnings!
Cheers to the positive thoughts! Relish the New Year!
Visuals by Different Truths