“Post – Covid 19” and “Pre – Covid 19” are terms that have already or will come into popular use. These are unprecedented times. I, who was preparing for my college semester exams, did not think that in a few days’ time I would be in my home and doing social distancing as lockdown gets announced. I am sure many of us were not entirely prepared for the severe turn things would take in the coming days. Though following the news and watching even the most advanced nations cripple under the medical burden arising due to the virus and even some of the biggest economies are unable to cope with the situation. I think we all knew it was just a matter of time before it came to us in our country and we’d have to fight it and win against it.

It is one of the greatest challenges we as a community have faced in recent times. I personally have heard a lot of stories from my grandparents about what was it like living through war, partition, emergency, etc. but I could never relate to those stories of fear and anxiety. Now, I must say it is a different scenario altogether. Especially for us millennials, I feel. The current situation looks like a chapter out of our history textbooks, except it isn’t.

I thought about what this would do to us as human beings. Would we emerge better? I hope. It is amazing to see, contrary to popular opinion of people losing connection, in these difficult times people have come forward to help irrespective of everything. Somewhere amidst the crisis, we are all finding our humanity back.

I mean who knew that an event of this scale was required to force us to talk and communicate and listen to each other again. I never knew that doing household chores as basic as cleaning and washing could bring families together, could burn the spark of love again that was extinguished due to I don’t know, maybe daily monotonies. We are learning to respect and value our domestic helps a lot. And everyone whether they like to or not has to get up on their own two feet and do the basic tasks of life even if they have never done it before. These basic routines of life are allowing all of us to find something new about ourselves every moment. It’s amazing!

A million thoughts run through my mind every day, about the economy, the state of the world afterward, about the people affected the most, people who could not survive, to the point that I have to tell myself to calm down and take a deep breath and take it one day at a time. I know, if you are a person like me who likes to take action, how it can be very difficult to sit in one place, fully aware that it is the only thing you can actually do to help yourself and everyone.

Every day in the news I see doctors, nurses, police, sanitation workers, grocery vendors, and many more working tirelessly to make sure that our lives can run smoothly while risking their own so that the lockdown can be successful to the maximum degree possible. I hope that they know the entire nation is grateful to them and they deserve our gratitude for their service.

While on the outside the world is fighting its battle against the coronavirus, on the inside many of us are fighting our own battles. Sometimes with our own minds or sometimes with our loved ones. We all are stressed and nervous because of the uncertainty that the future holds. But somehow deep down, within ourselves, we need to find the strength to endure. We all are much stronger than we think we are and we have the capability to survive even in the worst situations, never let the candle flicker even in the darkest tunnel or the strongest storm.

On the positive side, for those of us who are safe and at home, this is the time we won’t get back, I think it is somehow our responsibility to use this time responsibly and productively for ourselves and for those who don’t have the luxury to sit idle at home at times like this. I am sure like me, we all have complained at some point about how little time we have to do the things that we really want to do, well now here it is. Use it.

It is for the first time in recent years, that the entire world is standing together in solidarity to face a common evil. It is heartening to observe that we still can look past our differences and disagreements when needed. We still can extend a hand of friendship even to our enemy when needed. It’s ironic how a virus was able to reconnect the world in a way that all our advanced technology and evolved minds were not able to do. It made us compassionate and empathetic towards each other and see each other beyond the tag of race, gender or citizenship and realise we have more in common than we think.

Despite all the sunflowers and roses blooming, there are still thorns that refuse to subside, and forces that still work to divide and conquer. Elements that even in crisis cannot move above their personal agendas and want to use people’s vulnerability for selfish reasons. Well, we have to accept that all kinds of people exist in the world and to whom we give importance is up to us. So, choose wisely.

As a side benefit, nature is obviously happier than us and having a gala time. Surprising! Few months humans are off the streets and the world is a better place already. While you are binge-watching shows and Instagramming your quarantine routines, pay a thought to your actions towards nature and reflect and think of how we can make amends as this is a world, we don’t own but share and have loaned from the next generation for a specific time and have to return it in perfect condition.

As I said I have a multiplicity of thoughts running through my mind I guess this is it for today. Hope you are safe and healthy.