One month ago life was different. I was at the office, inspiring people in the month of love, planning holidays, Dutch classes and buying a bike and I wouldn’t have ever imagined that by today I will be counting weeks of self-isolation. Since the outbreak in China, I witnessed how rapidly the world gradually started to shut down and hoped that it would not reach me. Eventually, it happened. Too late too think otherwise now and run away from the most unimaginable thing: The world is changing and I am alive to be part of it. For all I know, only a few things from I wanted or felt will still apply from now on.
At first, it was like holding my breath, just waiting for everything to go away and go back to my normal life. Well, good luck with doing that now! At this point, it’s clear that things will not revert back to how they were anytime soon and that nobody knows yet how to overcome this, when will it end and what will happen after. Given the context, what is then left to be done? Well, while you #stayhome, some tips could include doing yoga, picking up a hobby, cultivating virtually deeper relationships with dear ones, reflecting upon life or discovering your true potential! Any of this could feel like progress and moving forward. Otherwise, if you feel more like distracting your mind rather than focusing it, gaming is an option, taking pictures of nature in spring or binge-watching Money Heist. Why not give yourself a break then?
If you do not feel like doing much, however, then maybe what you need is to mourn this sudden wreck of the world and take a moment to acknowledge that it is frightening to be surrounded by questions with no satisfying answer. At the same time, it is more frightening to feel that you can’t go on. If there is something left to hold on to, know that this too shall pass and take the advice of some people to asses the losses, how much freedom has been left to humanity and to each individual now and how can that freedom be used to prepare for what may come. Keep doing those things that still serve their purposes in this new situation. Stay informed to understand how the world is changing and how you can adapt.
In the face of life saying “Off it goes with the 2020 plans…”, one month later adaptation meant to keep moving in a precautious and balanced manner so that I can ensure myself enough air to breathe in chaos and enough space to move in isolation. Discipline, routine and healthy habits will always do a favor to one’s sanity and strength. Putting a pause on plans or adjusting them until society fires up again is part of the strategy. What is challenging now is to try to anticipate how we can use what we have been left with to regain our balance. To foresee which needs will arise for humanity and who and how will meet these needs. With so many deaths, unemployment, and extreme protective measurements, societies have been hit in their equilibrium so hard on so many levels that they might remain crippled for many years to come. Could this be a bit too much for humanity to handle?
Life will be more than challenging for a big percentage of the population on the globe. At the same time, pollution has gone down noticeable and the Ozone sphere is regenerating. I cannot NOT be amazed by this fact. That is one hell of a benefit from a pandemic spreading around the globe! Does this hit, however, hurt bad enough to teach the world to be more mindful of the impact that we have on the place we call Earth and Home? Will these changes constitute a strong enough proof that humanity should strive for more cooperation and collaboration in order to ensure the survival of our species? Only time will tell and one can only hope that it shall be so.2020 is by now the year in history when most toilet paper was sold and when the mechanisms of societies have fully embraced a different form in order to survive from January to April. 2020 is a mind-blowing year but I hope it will not blow your mind too. Stand brave and stay strong!
Elena-Iulia 