The last few months have been surreal for many people around the world, the old, young, children, expected mothers, businesses, religious establishments, institutions and governments. Life as we knew it has completely transformed for nearly everyone under the sun.
Who knew a brand new year, the beginning of a new decade would bring such an uncertainty and misery to the world? At the end of 2019, many people gathered in their homes, at end of year parties, city centres, churches with high hopes and expectations for the new year. Little did anyone know that 2020 would be chaotic, disruptive and diseased.
Being a realist, I wrote a piece on December 30, 2019 reflectng on the rationale of the excitement of the year and what that could turn into. I conscientized people to rather keep their hopes in check as new years do not necessarily guarantee good fortunes. But I wonder who even bothered to reflect or made sense of it.
Of course, I did not know exactly what was going to happen and certainly could not have imagined a calamity of this scale but I wondered about the unknown. I reflected on the fact that the universe could unleash its wrath on some of us including the celebrants.
I worried that some of the most excited could have it worse than the previous year. I also wondered whose turn it would be to experience unpleasant events and had hoped that they would not be the people I know.
Why Did Have those Thoughts?
I know all too well that life has no guarantees. I often say this but not many people understand that. Reason? Many think lineally and brush negative stories aside; they only want to think positive but is that ever real? Is life all rosy? Of course not?
But boom 2020, and a pandemic of the century arrives and virtually catches the world off guard. Nearly every country is thrown into a pandemonium.
Pandemic, COVID-19
This epidemic has dominated global and local news since the beginning of this year, 2020. It seems like everyone’s life has been affected. Some people’s lives have been put on hold, weddings cancelled, others have not been able to complete school/university whilst many graduations are up in the air.
Some have lost their jobs, businesses have gone under or are on life support. Governments are borrowing in large proportions or printing money to sustain their economies, keep businesses afloat and pay the unemployed.
Scientists and medical professionals are hailed as the new Messiahs. At the same time, hospitals have turned into war zones with body bags, albeit without adequate protective gears to combat this deadly disease.
Scientists and researchers battle over the nature, the epidemiology and mode of transmission of the novel coronavirus. For a while, it was unclear whether the disease was transmitted through airborne or droplets leading to conflicting views on what kinds of protective gears were sufficient.
It turned out the entire global community were prepared for a pandemic of such proportions despite recent epidemics like the Ebola, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and the obvious truth that epidemics have been a real threat to communities and nations. Many countries have been bidding for masks, protective gowns and gloves as supplies became short.
In the wake of the Pandemic, nearly 300, 000 have lost their lives and counting, and 3.8 million infected already. Many died alone and without their families by their sides. Several others have been buried in mass graves and without proper funerals.
Healthcare workers and first responders including paramedics, police and firefighters have also been killed or infected in line of duty. Senior citizens and people with underlying comorbidities have been the biggest casualties of the terrible disease.
Many societies have been under lockdowns, quarantine or isolation under extraordinary measures; national and intra state borders have been closed, restaurants, bars, shopping malls, passenger trains, airline operations have all been halted.
Unemployment, domestic violence and child abuses have soared as mental health and stress levels rise.
Groceries are done in line ups under social distancing guidelines, some shoppers resorted to panic buying and hoarding at some point. Mask wearing has become the latest fashion. At the peak of the pandemic, hand sanitizers and toilet papers became some of the hottest commodities and run out on shelves.
Social distancing has become a global social norm. In the advanced world, violators of social distancing and lockdown measures have been fined whilst citizens of the developing economies have been beaten and brutalized by security forces. In other places, including the US, lockdowns have garnered protests and confrontations amongst liberiterians.
Those unable to work have been anxious, frustrated and bored while “essential” workers especially healthcare workers have worried about their health and safety.
High Stress Levels?
The rollercoaster emotions? The fear, the uncertainty and the isolation? I keep wondering about the enormous impacts on us all.
These days, normal flu like symptoms including fever, cough, breathing difficulties are presumed to be COVID-19 until proven otherwise?
Some of us have had false alarms, experienced fears, self isolated, made our families very anxious.
Some people have directed their frustrations and anger toward others who have nothing to do with the Pandemic. Some people have been murdered for doing their jobs or enforcing infection control protocols.
Many people wonder when this situation will be over whilst others are afraid if they or their families would catch the disease too.
How have you been impacted? Has COVID-19 shuttered your hopes? Has it strengthened your resolve? Has it shaken your faith or strengthened it? Has that unveiled your inner strength? Has that generated any new ideas or any innovation? Have you had a new business opportunity? What have you learned from the experience?
Personally, it has broadened my perspective in life. It affirmed my opinion about the uncertainty of this life. Live today and don’t try to worry about tomorrow because you may not know exactly what tomorrow will bring. Tomorrow does not necessarily bring a positive experience. Accept life as is and operate within it to the best of your ability. Make the best of today.
Remember you cannot control everything; there are some things that are beyond your control.
Stay safe, stay healthy, stay physically distant and maintain proper hand hygiene.
Akosua G
Ontario, Canada
May 07, 2020