Lessons Learnt During Pandemic and How They Should Have Changed Us

 

New Normal

In the last few months, the world has seen the unexpected, unforeseen and unforgettable. This pandemic has brought us to realise how small and irrelevant our planning gets in front of the wish of nature. A single virus, manmade or natural, still in debate, caused havoc in our lives. In the name of the new normal, everything changed. However, the term new normal is not new. As per Wikipedia,  it is 'a state to which an economy, society, etc. settles following a crisis when this differs from the situation that prevailed prior to the start of the crisis. The term has been used following the financial crisis of 2007-2008, the aftermath of the 2008–2012 global recession, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the term new normal has an increasing use to refer the changes of human behaviour changes during or after this pandemic. Doctors at the University of Kansas Health System anticipate that the pandemic will change daily life for most people. This includes limiting person-to-person contact, like handshakes and hugs. Additionally, maintaining distance from others or social distancing, in general, will likely stick around. 

The New Normal has affected us for good and bad. As per Economic Times, in July 2019, over 6.8 lakh Indian companies shut down. As per another report by HRNXT, in 2020, companies like Whirlpool, Saint Gobain, TataChemicals, Bharat Forge and a few others decided to shut their operations in India until further notice. This is as a reaction to the pandemic of Coronavirus.  

According to a report by CNBC, retail sales of businesses in the US andChina have plunged to the lowest in Feb 2020, since last year. Its effects have been reflecting on the manufacturing and service activity. To top it all, the worst hit, are people in employment. Although these statistics are pretty upsetting.

Adjusted to New Normal 

However, during the New Normal, we have also accepted the changes which are required for being happy and healthy, both physically and mentally. We have found new ways and adapted to new methods of social interactions, which has helped us raise again and restart our lives. 

As we reboot our system, I have realised that I have learnt a few lessons in these months, which I shall share here:

Be independent, but do not forget you are interdependent too – I know it’s a contradictory statement. Let me explain. Life during the lockdown has shown us many statistics of unemployment, loss of business. This made us all feel a sense of loss of control. In our daily routine, we are so dependent on our maids and those around us, that this lockdown exposed our inability to run the show. However, slowly, we dragged ourselves to adapt to the ‘New Normal’. Therefore, be independent. Have backup plans, plan your finances, plan your work and life in such a way that you are prepared. The second part which states, we are interdependent, means that we are all a part of this same ecosystem. We affect each other. Our actions have an effect on the lives of so many others either directly or indirectly. We affect the environment too and it affects us. So although we work independently, we must not forget that we are a part of the larger system.

Do not take advantage of the needy – In this period, I have seen many who were stuck without food and water for days, many who couldn’t reach their families and were left alone, many who lost their livelihood and these were not readily helped. Rather, there were so many, so-called ‘privileged’ who took advantage of them. I would say, we must help if we can and are in a position to; and if we can’t, then, we must rather let them be and not make their situation worst.

Value of little things

Value life.. your own and that of others – I have seen that the value of life is less than that of peanuts. Everyone is just too busy living their lives and their routines. But no one cares about the quality of life they are living. No one cares about how important it is to take care of life. There is so much ‘taking for granted’ which is done. I have expressed my feelings in detail in an earlier post ‘How precious is life for us?

   

Treasure relations – I also realised that we are such social beings. Distance from social interactions has caused a feeling of longing to meet and have a laugh and chat with our friends and family. This was managed thankfully because of the advancement of virtual platforms. However, I have serious doubts if it can ever replace physical social interactions.

Have gratitude – The worth of something is realised in your life not when it is present, but in its absence. Just, for example, we enjoyed fresh air, freedom to move around in crowds, to hang out with friends and family. During the lockdown, and still, with all the restrictions imposed, we have learnt, that we had taken it for granted. The feeling of gratitude should always loom in our heads. So much to be thankful for to mother nature, to our families, to the people who unfearingly cared about the lives of others by keeping their own lives at stake in this pandemic situation.

I hope these lessons are not just what I have learnt or felt deeply, but are echoed by others reading this too.