2020: At An Impasse…
2020 is surely proving to be one of the most challenging years and it’s putting the world at an impasse. It’s bringing out both the best and the worst of us from protests, to calamities, to deaths, and this pandemic. It’s like the Harry Potter Knight bus driving fast in the streets of the UK that had to abruptly stop and wait excruciating seconds for the old lady to pass. 2020 is at an impasse, a standstill and we’re all probably wondering, how can we get through this? How indeed can we find a breakthrough? And when we get through, how can we live with that new normality in our system?
Pandemic
Definition: an epidemic that spread over a wide geographic area affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population.
I wanted to write my thoughts during all these to have something to ponder upon years ahead. This is mostly my thoughts during Covid-19 though and is not intended to offend anyone. I know somewhere a lot of people are struggling and fighting different battles and being insensitive is the last thing on my mind.
When the number of Covid-19 cases started to spike, countries struggled to find ways to stop and slow the spread. Companies also strategized to keep their businesses afloat from having a skeletal workforce to work-from-home options. I was fortunate enough to be part of one that is equipped and can support work-from-home options. Unfortunately, this is not true for everyone. Some had to lay-off, shut down, or temporarily close parts of their businesses. With this, a chain reaction took place where the lowest of the low had to endure the bludgeonings and blows. Before we knew it, the fast-paced Earth at 2020 slowly went to an impasse but not everyone is at standstill. Some of us had to brave the storm every day to either stay alive or keep people alive.
Out Of Office Response…
On a personal note, working from home has its ups and its downs. For one, it helps lessen the number of daily human interactions in public places like train stations, buses, and even the offices. Not everyone may agree but for me, social distancing is effective. Working from home also meant extra time with family and one’s self – less travel time means more family and running errands time. This is a double-edge sword though.
I can be workaholic sometimes and it’s not a good thing when working from home. When the WFH arrangement was encouraged first, I was doing a big project for the region. Working from home, I found myself logged in until 10 to 11 PM daily. If it’s not finishing up some analyses, I was doing work that could be done the next day. Time management got lost along the way because of this mentality that I’m home doing work anyway.
As the world sees the need for more social distancing, more facilities and businesses went on lockdown. This includes schools and homeschooling for kids too. I can never imagine how hard it is, but teaching the kids and working from home is a huge ask while trying not to burn the household to the ground. Kudos to those parents juggling all these while keeping/trying to keep a good headspace.
“Watch” you doing…
Netflix has gotten a lot more attention from me during this pandemic – from old movies and series, to new ones I’ve been patiently waiting for, to even my favorite animes.
I have found comfort watching Michael Scofield getting out of every possible prison and Mike Ross slaying it in the courtroom. I’ve even cheered at the Professor as they robbed the most secured places on Earth. I have watched as Kingdoms fall and fight zombies and witches. I’ve gushed over the Goblin, the Grim Reaper, and Captain Ri. I have cried over a mother who will do everything for her daughter. I’ve even felt fury over a two-timer husband and a wife that has every possible reason to move on but quite didn’t. I have also found myself experimenting with cooking because Masterchef Australia contestants gave me so much confidence :).
Aside from seeing movies and series, I have found myself subscribing to Scribd, reading a CFA syllabus, and watching an open lecture online from Yale.
Photography has always been my way to unwind and destress, I always try to squeeze it in now and then. When the restrictions were eased up, I gathered up the courage and the energy to walk around the nearest promenade. I didn’t go far though, I just walked from one train station to another lense on hand.
It’s okay if it’s not okay…
Some of us may feel pressured to do groundbreaking stuff during this pandemic but we don’t have to. It’s okay if we feel like taking a break because that truth is, the world is not okay. If doing nothing or being unproductive is what keeps you together, bother not. As long as you are sensitive to others and you have the means, you deserve a pause. Life and 2020 is at an impasse, it’s okay to stop along if you have the luxury to. When you’ve finally gotten your groove back, then you carry on.
With this said, we all have different ways to cope and keep our well-being together. For me, it’s always been reading books and movies and series. It helps me unwind and take my mind off things. It’s a relief for every daunting issue, despondent story, and infuriating situation I’ve read and seen in the news. Find things that relax or excite you, it’s okay if it’s the silliest thing you can think of. It’s okay if it’s spending hours learning that Tiktok dance. It’s okay to feel lost and to feel like you’re no longer in control because who isn’t? The important thing is to be open, to be honest with yourself, and to accept the situation we’re all in. Let it out, it’s okay not to be okay. It’s what makes us human and it’s understandable and it’s relatable.
Call them maybe…
As an introvert, I’m used to and preferred quality time alone. It wasn’t a big ask for me to stay home, but this is more than just staying home. The isolation and fear for our physical health can also take a toll on our mental, emotional, and spiritual states. When Covid-19 was at its peak in here, I only went out during weekends for grocery runs. Every time I do, I can’t help but feel wary.
Not everyone though is used to isolation, some enjoy being around people. This is why I feel it’s important to keep in touch with the people you care about. Always find time to check up on them and ask how they are doing. I live alone overseas and there’s nothing more calming these days than to know my family back home is safe and okay. Keep tabs with what your friends are doing and how they’re feeling, let them know they are supported. I’ve never really thought of the gravity of this pandemic, and 2020 in general, until I saw some mental and emotional breakdowns from people finding it hard to cope.
I have read Facebook posts with outgoing rage, posts of being tired and lost, and posts about giving up. I’ve seen associates resign from jobs because of panic attacks. I have heard stories of family struggles because of finances and of taking care of their children. Though we may not fully understand what they are going through, it’s always best to let them know we are here.
Heroes with no capes…
It’s not all bad in the news though, the pandemic brought out the best of most of us as well. Not to mention most families we’re reconnected, the distancing may be enforced, but bonds grew stronger. We see people pool resources together to help those in need. Celebrities and influencers used their platforms to spread love and encouragement across nations.
Of course, when we talk about modern-day heroes, we can never discount the contribution of our brave frontliners. Not all of us have the luxury of time and resources to halt with the whole world. Some of us need to fight the battle so we could enjoy the luxury of staying put. These are the heroes we’ve never really fully appreciated before. These heroes aren’t immortal, they don’t have magic powers and hammers and shields, they don’t fly and wear capes. These heroes are frontliners who wear scrubs and masks and gloves and uniforms with their game faces on.
These real-life heroes include health workers, some public officials, supermarket workers, restaurant staff, garbage collectors, and other blue-collar workers that walk miles to get to their sites, and so on. Everyone who had to go to work to be able to keep the world from falling apart, everyone who had to go to work to keep their families alive. These people deserve not only applauses and recognitions as they are risking their lives to fill the gaps and patch the holes. To be honest, I don’t even know what is enough to show gratitude for what these people are doing, words and actions won’t be able to come close. SALUTE and THANKS to all of you.
Keep the boat afloat…
2020 at an impasse, who would have thought? End of 2019 we are all like, 2020 bring it on! Well, 2020 brought it, but the breakthrough is coming, let’s all pray for it.
I know we are all braving the same storm and not all of us have the resources to get by the flood it created. Some of us are lucky enough to have boats, others have worked hard to build one and have paid off. Most of us however are swimming hard trying to keep afloat, while others, unfortunately, got drowned by its depth. But the storm will pass, the flood will subside and everyone will be able to stand tall and walk with their two feet again.
***END***
If you miss travelling and would like to see a few options for when it’s okay to travel again, feel free to click this link.