For us teenagers and young adults alike, a global pandemic was something unheard of, until the emergence of COVID – 19. For many of us, the word “Covid-19” would simply remind of very common facts related to it such as the death toll for a particular day, a new variant, or vaccines. But have we ever thought about how much the pandemic has impacted our lives? It may be that we subconsciously adapted to it, that we simply did not realize we were naturally fitting into the ‘New normal’. My personal experiences, stories I have heard of people, and things I have seen, encouraged me to write this article regarding the teachings and impacts the global pandemic had on our very own lives, especially during the few times we were under lock down.
During our cycle of life we all embrace many things at the different stages, be it people, habits, hobbies or physical things. But, one important thing the pandemic taught us was that most of the things we embrace in life are temporary, and that we would have to let go of them at some point in life. For example, regular smokers and alcohol consumers had little or no access to cigarettes and alcohol during the lockdown period. People who partied until late night had no chance for that. Gym freaks were unable to hit the gym, and the list goes on. We were all deprived of something during this lockdown period and all it taught us was that most things in life are temporary, and that we shouldn’t be distracted too much by them, but instead focus on the more important things.
Beliefs of casts and social hierarchies have been a massive part of Sri Lankan culture for an extremely long period, and are believed by many even to this date. The latest division is the rich and the poor, which is arising from the increase in poverty, and the financial crisis within the country. However, the pandemic proved to us that all humans are the same. The simplest example was that, regardless of whether a person was rich, poor, or from a high or low cast, if he or she died due to complications resulting from contacting the Covid-19 virus, they all underwent a common form of disposal. No funerals, just a few close family members walking behind your casket unable to even see or touch your body. Therefore, I believe that we all should all set aside any negative thoughts and actions, and start working towards rebuilding peace and prosperity within our country. Life is uncertain, and all we can leave behind are the cherish-able memories of yourself and your impact to society.
Most of us have adapted to certain methods or ways of life, some which have been passed on to us over several generations. But during the pandemic situation most of these methods had to be completely changed. For example, schools and universities functioned online, where students had to adapt to distanced learning methods, while most workplaces continued offering their services with their staff working online. This strategy enabled us to work at the comforts of our own homes and lifted the burden of traveling. It also had its downsides such as the deprivation of the normal working or studying environment and very limited engagement with workmates. As a whole, what this pandemic has proven to us is that life is all about change, and that this is what leads to success. The ability to change also shows courage, and is the starting point of many great things. The pandemic successfully made us change the way we did many things, and adapt to different methods in a short period. I feel that this is something we could all be grateful for.
Time is probably one of the most precious things in life, and one thing this pandemic situation offered us was more time. This was actually a great opportunity for many to catch up on many other things we had missed out. For example, we had more time to spend with our families, or to do things we were passionate about. For most of us, this helped balance out the stress that came upon us due to various other reasons related to being stuck at home.
Many considered the Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity for mother earth to heal itself. We could see a clear reduction in pollution all around the world, and it was further reinforced with the claim that the ozone layer too had revived a part of itself, because the depletion had reduced. This also resulted in people acknowledging this to be a much needed phenomenon meant to restore balance on earth.
Not all impacts that resulted from the pandemic were positive ones. The amount of cases reported to mental health institutions or counseling service providers had increased. Being stuck at home was not good for people dealing with a lot of stress or depression. Furthermore, this also contributed towards an increase in abuse. For some people, having to step out of the house for certain needs or duties was actually a way of escaping abuse within their households. But as a result of the pandemic situation, this was not possible. Therefore it’s always best to check on our friends and loved ones as we may not know what they are going through.
The pandemic was also a massive blow on the poor. A bigger percentage of people in our country are daily wage earners, and not being able to earn during these days certainly made it very difficult for them. One common thing we saw was people lined up at pawning centers to exchange their jewelry for money. Therefore, its always important not to misuse or mishandle whatever we possess or earn, but to handle them with care as we might not know when their importance may arise.
All in all, this pandemic gave us a taste of how volatile life is, and how it is a daily struggle to simply make do every day. It gave value to each of those daily experiences we have, be it good or bad. It goes without saying that we should truly make the best out of these valuable experiences and use them to succeed in the future.
Rtr. Priyan Jerome
Editor