The Teachings of 2020

What the Global Pandemic has Taught Us?

At the preface of another decade, it all goes as a one-way window film through the AC compartments of Indian trains. By the end of February 2020, while India was struggling with anti-CAA protests followed by multiple waves of bloodshed, property destruction and mob attacks by slashing and setting people on fire in Delhi we weren’t aware that some other perilous danger was about to hit people emotionally, socially and financially across the globe. The invisible demon crept into our world, claiming thousands of lives, and if not lives, marooned them with the horrifying memories of the year 2020.

The last ten months have been the most challenging times that we have seen in our lives, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic which has thrown the world into disarray. We did never imagine that a reveling beginning of the year will end in this disastrous way inflicting the scourge of mass unemployment, crippled economy and the loss of precious lives due to the global pandemic Covid-19. We never gave it a thought that someday an invisible evil will change our thought process, our life style and our social and emotional behaviour so profoundly and we must agree that this happening is beyond any phenomenon of human civilization. All this topsy-turvy has taught us the lessons for life which will be difficult to forget and many have really transformed themselves entirely which is a good sign of reinventing and reintroducing oneself in a time of adversity and challenges. In a bid to assuage fears and uncertainty in life let’s have a look on the following points entailing the reforms and the lessons taught by 2020:

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     A Stitch in Time Saves Nine:

We all know the importance of planning and preparation as well as the fact that lost time can never be regained but do we ever value our time and focus on planning and being prepared for the worst? Certainly not, but the corona period has helped us lot to introspect and retrospect as how to invest our time and money in order to manage work and life to be ready to face the difficult times and survive the obstacles that fall on our way.

     Health is Wealth:

    Human is considered to be the mightiest of all creatures but when millions of lives were under an unpredictable threat we learnt to give enough attention to our health, hygiene and immunity. This pandemic has forced us to respect our body and well being. During the course of this unprecedented pandemic, people have shown great interests in buying healthcare equipment as well as maintaining healthy lifestyle and incorporated yoga and physical exercises in their routine on regular basis. Even the healthcare industry has produced inspiring examples of innovation in products, services and processes.

     Definition of Development:

We considered industrialization, urbanization, space science and nuclear weapons as the mark of development of human civilization. We all witness how the lockdown in the initial time of the pandemic revived the magnificence of snow capped mountains, blue sky and crystal clear lakes. It has forced us to think that the clamour and chaos in the name of development was really not the aim of human life rather maintaining the mesmerizing beauty and enchanting melody of nature is the sole responsibility of human civilization.

     Learning is a Lifetime Process:

This pandemic has changed this ideology that childhood is the only learning period of life. People of all age groups and from all walks of life learned digital payments, online teaching and learning, virtual get together and games, online consultations and what not. This was a paradigm shift for us that how we can learn even the impossible things in just a wink of eye and get hooked to all-new-normal practices in a jiffy. We must feel grateful to be imbibed with this human instinct that even in this tough year, we’ve braved the pandemic and we are alive and healthy to experience what life has in store for us.

     Change is the only Constant:

The biggest strength of humans is the ability to change and reinvent ourselves. One has to have fire in one’s belly to move on and surmount any challenge that comes on the way to success and perfection. If we can flow and walk with the changing times we can make life better. Getting accustomed with new patterns and system always helps in restoring energy and encouraging new habits and passion for a smooth sustenance.

     Family and Friends are the Assets:

Once again it has been proved that none can be as caring and loving as your family. In the race of cut throat competition we forgot that our loved ones always demand our time and attention and that’s the most expensive gift for them. Lockdown period helped people refresh and rejuvenate all those relationships and friends unions. These are the essential ingredients of the recipe of a healthy, blissful and contented life. Spending quality time with your loved ones is indeed a luxury of life.

     Education:

Education is the biggest investment for an individual, society and a nation; and that’s the only reason that teaching and learning could not be hindered by the pandemic, millions of lives were touched and taught during this period by various virtual teaching platforms and brought a revolutionary change in the mindsets of people that learning depends upon classrooms, buildings and infrastructures. In the wake of this pandemic many universities and institutions have launched online courses to facilitate learners and aspirants from miles apart breaking the boundaries of distance and physical landscapes. We are waiting that a new hybrid model of education will emerge soon with significant benefits and the online education will eventually become an integral part of school education.

     Work from Home:

Curtailing the commute time and traffic congestion were the challenges for many employees before corona period. The pandemic made it mandatory to stay at home and manage your work and it became an indispensable part of our work life. The new trend of ‘work from home’ helped many to manage kids, household responsibilities and the job work. Many companies have reduced the number of offices and the expenses by promoting this concept as a new normal of work culture.

Thought Provoking Read: Self-Isolation-or-Self-Adoration

The unforgettable experiences and learning during this pandemic should never go in vain with the passage of time, Let’s hope to have a virus free new year, Let’s wait for a joyous beginning of the year 2021 with this promise with SELF that we will never stop infusing joie de vivre into the scenarios and spaces we live in; no matter how difficult life is!