The COVID-19 virus, also famously known as the coronavirus, has drastically transformed our world in ways we could not comprehend yet. I have come across people from all age groups talking about this pandemic as something extraterrestrial despite other forms of pandemics before, like the Spanish flu from 1918 and the H3N3 flu pandemic from 1968. So here is my “extraterrestrial’s” journey.
The Begining
It was January 20, 2020, when they announced the first COVID-19 case in India. But this was not something serious due to many speculations circulating among communities that this was just another flu; they were exaggerating its gravity. With these speculations, people were confused about this new virus because no one had an unadorned glimpse of what this could become.
Things were going like they usually did daily, and life did not feel any different. I did my research in the mornings, spent the evenings in the gym, and had a good hike with a barbecue during the weekends. To add to this list, we also snuck a road trip once in a while every month. Life was going great.
The Global Lockdown
As good as life was in January, things took a quick turn in just a couple of months. By this time, most of us had a glimpse and a clear sight of the seriousness of COVID-19. With the media also starting to trumpet the news about COVID-19 and how quickly it claims lives, things went from sanity to insanity very quickly. Eventually, this led to the media being Dee Dee clicking the big red “Panic” button, which Dexter always told her not to press. Reading or watching the news about these every day made everyone more susceptible to elevated anxiety and stress levels, and I was also a victim of these commotions.
In due course, I felt like I was at some end-of-the-world movie with the world in panic barbaric mode. The WHO announcing a global pandemic alert also fueled the conflagration. That’s when the governments announced a global lockdown to calm things down and plan a sequence of maneuvers to tackle this virus.
Bored in the house or In the house bored?
The Indian government announced our lockdown on March 23, 2020, with some strict precautions for those who do not abide. Once the lockdown was announced, I went into a so-called hibernation mode, thinking this would only last for a couple of months and things would return to how it was.
Boy, was I wrong about that. Just when I thought the first month of lockdown was coming to an end, the government decided to extend it for quite some time. As the days turned into weeks and then into months, it became a real struggle to find meaningful activities to fill my time. The constant barrage of negative news from the media only seemed to reinforce the notion that we were in for a never-ending battle.
However, one day, I decided to step back from the chaos and reflect on how to use this time more constructively. It was then that I revisited the list of skills I had always wanted to develop but had never found the time for. I realized that, given the circumstances, I now had all the time in the world. This was an opportunity I might never have again.
So, I set out to learn and grow. I dedicated myself to acquiring new skills, expanding my knowledge, and pursuing interests that had long been on the back burner. It was a transformative period in my life, as I discovered the power of resilience and adaptability during challenging times.
Now, talking about using this time more productively, I came across many people who mentioned that they cannot be productive despite having all the time in the world. Now, we must take a step back and understand that we could never be productive based on standards set by the world which used to be. This is a time to define productivity based on your standards and not compare it with what was. In doing this, you will have rejuvenated thoughts with new ideas, opportunities, and perspectives. This will prepare you to go where you’ve never gone, to accomplish dreams that you didn’t think were possible and boost your level of “productivity” based on what you have defined for yourself.
Moreover, this is also a time to replenish our bonds with our families as we are “forced” to spend more time with them in our households. Let’s not grouse about this and instead use this opportunity to learn more about them. In a fast-paced world, where time is indefinite, time itself has slowed down for everyone after this lockdown by becoming a definitive property. I will not go into all the physics of it cause Dr. Steven Hawking has already done it. But in simple terms, we must understand that it does not matter who or what or where you are from unless you are a first responder; everyone is confined to their own homes to fight against our common enemy, COVID-19. What better time and opportunity can we get than this?
The Dark Side of Lockdown
With many of us struggling to find ways to solve our first-world problems, we completely forgot about the real issue at hand that the media did not think was newsworthy of covering. What can be a more significant issue than trying to be productive, you may ask? Well, it is none other than our fellow communities at a disadvantage.
Since we were all at home, we did not realize the difficulty faced by families who live on daily wages. I was brought to be aware of this from a good friend who had many daily wage workers living in his vicinity. When I learned about this, things got so bad in India that starvation became a more significant threat than COVID-19. Families bellowed my friend to get one meal daily from a tiny vicinity. And that is when the government and many of us left our comfort zone to help these communities by doing our best to support them. My family and I bought food kits that could last a month for some of these families and groups of daily wage bachelors. And the government also did its best by providing bulk everyday meals for these communities.
When you look closely at people’s etiquette, you will notice that most of them have become more selfless in caring for one another in fighting our common enemy, COVID-19. Suddenly, race, ethnicity, and culture do not matter anymore. Suddenly, the only thing that matters is overcoming this pandemic together and returning to our everyday lives. Of course, there are still people who hoard toilet paper, but let this not distract us from the positive transformation this is bringing among us in our everyday lives. This transformation will last for generations if we prioritize continuing to be who we are today, even after we defeat our current enemy.
Light Always Triumphs Over Darkness
When you look closely at people’s etiquette, you will notice that most of them have become more selfless in caring for one another in fighting our common enemy, COVID-19. Suddenly, race, ethnicity, and culture do not matter anymore. Suddenly, the only thing that matters is overcoming this pandemic together and returning to our everyday lives. Of course, there are still people who hoard toilet paper, but let this not distract us from the positive transformation this is bringing among us in our everyday lives. This transformation will last for generations if we prioritize continuing to be who we are today, even after we defeat our current enemy.
I am not saying that everything in this world will change for good or continue to be this way. Still, a small percentage will continue caring for one another regardless of caste, religion, gender, or background. And a small percentage, when you look from a global perspective, is still generous change. Because when all you need is one person to change the world, having a group of people gives a better bet at it. This global change would definitely bring about a much-needed transformational reset in this world.
Half-time
The date was June 14th, 2020. And we finally reached half-time since the pandemic started, and things were slowly beginning to calm down, with lockdown restrictions being liberalized. My cousins and I decided to step outside the city and into the forest for the weekend to commemorate. Being a person who enjoys the outdoors, it was indeed a relishing break after spending many days at home.
On the other hand, life was also slowly starting to see some glimmers of hope as things got back to normal for everyone. Daily wage workers began to return to work again, restaurants and malls also started gradually allowing people with restrictions, and things were not so chaotic anymore.
And by September, almost everything returned to how it was before the pandemic began. Of course, the only noticeable difference is that most of them wear masks whenever they are in public places. Cousins and I also started meeting once in two weeks to relax and unwind our thoughts while a brisket or a lamb shank was smoking upon the coal. Things felt normal, but COVID-19 was still “among us.”
Happy Birthday to me
Today, November 9, 2020, is undoubtedly a day many of us have been waiting for. Many days have passed since the pandemic started, and we finally witnessed hope with Pfizer announcing their vaccine going public. And this meant that we had an effective weapon against COVID-19. I must say, good job, world. It was a challenging journey, but we did it by being united and considerate with equity.
Now, we have to overcome the two greater tasks at hand: create strong vaccination drives around the world so that everyone gets an opportunity to get vaccinated and also educate the anti-vaccine crowd to join this vaccination drive. The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can bid farewell to the pandemic and return to the familiar embrace of the old norm.
Amidst all these challenges and changes, there was a moment of respite and celebration this month—my birthday. It was a unique and heartwarming experience, unlike any I’d had in a long time. The reason for this was simple but profound: I could spend it with my family. This birthday reminded us that while life can challenge us, it also offers moments of pure, unadulterated happiness. It was a day when the world’s complexities faded into the background, and what truly mattered—family, love, and togetherness—took center stage.
It’s a New Year (2021)
The arrival of the new year brought with it a sense of renewed hope and aspirations. However, it also marked the beginning of what many had feared—a second wave of the pandemic. I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Well, here we go again.”
The world had learned much from the trials of the past year. We adapted, grew, and joined as a global community to combat the virus. But the battle was far from over, and the virus’s resilience was a stark reminder. As I watched the news and saw the rising number of cases, there was a sense of déjà vu. The familiar challenges of lockdowns, social distancing, and adjusting to a new normal were back on the horizon. It was a sobering realization that the path to recovery was not a straight line but a series of peaks and valleys.
Yet, there was also a glimmer of hope in this moment of uncertainty. The lessons we had learned, the resilience we had discovered, and the unity we had forged remained with us. We knew what to do and how to support one another. So, while the new year’s beginning came with its share of challenges, it also brought with it the unwavering spirit of perseverance. It was a reminder that, together, we could navigate the waves of uncertainty and emerge even stronger on the other side.
As I looked ahead, I held onto the belief that the human spirit was indomitable. With hope, resilience, and a collective determination to overcome, we would face this new wave with the same unwavering resolve as we had before.
Great delivery. Solid arguments. Keep up the great work. Marje Kinnie Isiah