This pandemic has been one of the most horrific events that most of us witnessed in our lifetime. The pain and suffering that many are experiencing have no compensation. The multiple “Lockdowns” have added to the anguish of the larger population. But for a few of us, this has been a breather of sorts. I have not felt so alive for a very long time as much as I have started feeling during the lockdowns. I have been a deeply wounded person who has begun to heal and grow. I now know that I can be happy and live a fulfilling life.
Got reconnected with me: I realized that I am still a human being and not a robot. Music, dance, art, yoga and meditation that had all vanished from my life were back. It was happening when I had almost convinced myself that maybe these aspects would remain pleasant memories of a past life.
I am glad that I can experience the magic and beauty again.
No-No-No: No stressful commute to the office, no air or sound pollution, no worries of missing the bus or office meetings, no rush to the daycare to pick up my kid, no bargaining with the auto-rickshaw wallas, no humiliation of their rejections, no back pain carrying the laptop. The list goes on.
These ‘No’s have added so much positivity to the safety, productivity, peace of mind and well-being of an individual they genuinely deserve.
Unfortunately, we would again be deprived of these things when we return to the ‘normal’.
Guilty as charged: Being an introverted person with chronic migraine issues, who continuously fails to match the fast pace of the world, it was like a satisfaction a sadist would get — I couldn’t have imagined that the whole world would slow down to my pace, even if forcibly!
Everything is so sober, simple and subtle. I love my pace, and you should stop frowning and start appreciating it.
Did you say quality? Time to understand the difference between spending quantity versus quality time with yourself, family and friends. For the first time in my life, I had to work graveyard shifts during this period. So, I was there all the time literally but NOT there practically for anyone at home.
I now understand why my mother did not have so much time for us, even as a stay-at-home mum. The household responsibilities can consume enormous time and energy if you cannot let things go.
What we are and what we are not: I could understand many aspects of how circumstances make us do certain things in certain situations. Good and evil both.
Like, I would consider myself reasonably good at art and literature. However, I am good not just because I have talent or/and I had a supportive environment for them when I picked up these skills. The grim truth is that I am good at something because there were some impediments like the absence of other infrastructures. So, I could never try something else that had the potential to become my passion or hobby.
A parent’s dilemma: Get to know what role I have to play in my kid’s life. Earlier, I could not understand her or track her progress or know her interests. We barely had 2–3 hours of waking life together. That too was consumed by mundane tasks of getting ready for the day, eating, homework and winding down for the day, only to repeat the cycle.
How I had ignored her natural singing ability as we did not have time to take her for additional lessons on our weekends. Today, thanks to online classes for every activity and the freedom to choose the timings, one can easily pick things to and fit around your routine.
Indeed, we miss outdoor activities like tennis or swimming, but what’s more important is the realization that there’s a whole world of possibilities that have remained untapped because of our systems and mental blocks.
I can now truly resonate with parents who have quit their jobs for bringing up their kids. Earlier, I just thought of it as a personal choice. Still, now I can understand what joy and gratification one gets with being actively engaged in their kid’s life.
Minimalist way of living: There have been continuous adjustments and creative independence filling up the life because of unplanned overseas travels (for work), staying in hostels or as a paying guest. Life has prepared me to survive with limited resources during this testing time. A self-sufficient family unit with lean processes and control. Truly agile. No unnecessary outside interferences.
God works mysteriously. I have had some Deja vu moments lately. I have never witnessed such strong interconnections of people, places, and practices unexpectedly. Whatever I touched, how remote or unexpected it was, had some roots from my past. All to strengthen my belief in “karma.”
Welcome Home, lost soul! Is home where the mind is without fear? I keep humming this poem of Tagore and praying that I never become homeless even when “life” goes back to “normal”.
