What has COVID taught us?
COVID-19 sprung upon us without any warning, which gave us no time to prepare. It brought the world to a standstill and redefined “normal” life. Even in the darkest of times, there are still valuable and productive lessons to be learnt. Here are some reminders of what COVID-19 has taught us:
Standing united:
This contagious virus does not discriminate among individuals who share or don’t share the same cultural and ideological beliefs. As no one is immune to it, we are all doing our part to fight against it. In this regard, the world has become more united with the same sense of vulnerability. We can now recognise that we are connected in more ways than one. Most importantly, it has educated us that despite our differences, we are still one humanity.
Sharing is caring:
As scientists work around the clock to find the next cure for this virus, this global pandemic has taught us about the power of caring. Small acts of appreciation have been noted around the world from supporting small business owners to sending prayers to the ill. The impact that one can have on another during these trying times is testament that love, and care is vital. Fear of the virus initially took its toll when everyone flocked to supermarkets to purchase everything on the shelves. The fear was also a wonderful reminder to not only think about ourselves but others around us. It was also a reminder to repurpose items and not be wasteful.
Appreciating freedom:
Being in isolation for a large part of the year has been challenging in more ways than one. With restrictions placed on everything, COVID has reminded us about the gift of freedom. While freedom is generally associated with not being confined within our homes, freedom can also be a state of mind to be pursued regularly, whatever the situation we may find ourselves in.
Prioritising:
This outbreak has made us re-evaluate our priorities in all aspects. Whether it was taking some down time to nurture yourself, learning new habits, adjusting and adapting to a new normal, or prioritizing our friends and family over work life.
Personal development:
With many of us in isolation and without much contact, we may have temporarily lost the identities we assume with the outside world. Our normal patterns of the day are altered in every aspect. Throughout this struggle to adapt to a “new normal”, we have been blessed with the space and time to connect with who we really are, and possibly who we would want to be moving forward.
Resilience:
Remember the quote, “life does not get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient?”. COVID has brought about a surge of new challenges. It has pulled back the curtain and exposed anything that was not real. As a society, we have had to overcome obstacles that have brought its own hardship. Through it all, we have learnt the importance of patience, tolerance and optimism in learning to accept “what is” rather than what it “should be”.
Time is precious:
As the death toll increases worldwide, we are reminded of our mortality and that our days are numbered. The biggest takeaway from this global pandemic is to cherish our moments, remind yourself about what you are grateful for and to infuse the two with meaning and purpose.
“And when the danger has passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, made new choices and created new ways to live. For in the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”