A new way of life..

Serious read alert.

Lockdowns, Border Restrictions, Economic downturn…and much more…

No one knows where it came from, or at least there’s no hard evidence to substantiate the many theories floating around. Whether it’s a result of laboratory leakage or in fact the bats gave this to us, we don’t know. Honestly, I don’t want to know.

What we do know is that:

• Its highly contagious, transmits from one human to another, through droplets on surface – hands, eyes, nose! Apparently one infected person can pass it to 400 people.
• It stays on surface and in the air for a long time depending on weather conditions
• The virus mutates faster than any other and therefore antibodies developed in a patient may not even protect them from a relapse.
• No one knows who is infected unless they are tested because a lot of people are asymptotic carriers, perhaps because their immune system is strong and therefore fighting it. but that makes it riskier because it may still be passed on.
• There is no known medicine or vaccine and WHO mentions that we may have something ready in 12-18 months. Key word being “may”. This is wishful thinking. So the world needs to live in fear for the foreseeable future.
• And because it’s declared as a pandemic, entire world is trying to save their people. Easier said than done.

Nations, big or small, first or third world, developed or developing are all struggling to contain and combat this virus. A battle is being fought globally and healthcare officials and other essential service providers are the real fighters.

For the wider world, all we’ve been told to fight this, is to hide, hibernate and keep it clean. Stay in, Stay safe, Social distancing, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, sanitise things and wear a mask are the only known precautions one can take. As humans we struggle with that because it’s not our choice but something we’ve been asked to do!

Countries, economies have gone on lockdowns for weeks, some months, at a stretch. Leaders around the world are practising what they think might work for their countries, some announced an immediate shut down of everything, some took progressively stricter measures and some are still weighing pros and cons!

Whatever the case, the truth of the matter is these are trying times.. People are stuck in all sorts of places, in all kinds of conditions and our lives have changed. Kids have no school. Daily wage earners have lost their livelihood. Small businesses can’t repay loans and service interest payments. Airline staff has gone on pay cuts because there are no flights, skies are free of planes. Many people have been fired because corporates and MSMEs can’t pay them salaries. Stocks and shares have lost their charm, only temporarily though. Economies have been eroded and luckier ones have only shrunk. Life is almost at a standstill. People step out only to run important errands – essentially to get groceries or see a doctor. No one alive has ever witnessed anything remotely similar to this and God forbid anyone gets to witness a repeat!

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I like to see the Silver Lining!

Nature has been sending us messages from all over the world..

It almost seems that in our efforts to build a better and more connected world, we ripped off nature for years ! Its been 2 months and closing down of the world has had nature flourish and stun us in ways, we couldn’t ever imagine. Here are some pictures from the busiest cities around the world & therefore are far from imagination.

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Lockdown’s Got Talent..

the coping mechanism of human brains!

Social media has it painted all over, every single one of us has tons of hidden talent. In efforts to beat the anxiety, forget the uncertainties and to live in the moment, many discovered they could do so much more..

Social media has been flooded with new cooks and bakers, who have such brilliant sense of flavours and presentation. Some have started giving it back to their bodies. Some are giving it back to their spouses and parents by picking up household chores. Some have been writing songs. Some have started designing or making things. Some are busy gardening. Some have discovered they can fix things in the house and don’t really need to call a plumber or electrician every time something stopped functioning. Some have gone to their humorous best and are making world a better place, by bringing one smile at a time. And everyone realises the importance of domestic help, people who take out garbage and the ones who deliver things to our door steps.

Above all, we are all unlearning the way life has been running and (re)learning the importance of giving it back, to ourselves, our families and our societies at large. Random acts of kindness from all over the world, seems to be the force uniting us all.

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Reflections…

This is the time to Pause.

Reflect. Reconnect. Reconcile. Reorganise. Repair. Rewind. Reset (and may be also Reproduce)

• Let’s all take this as a (not so) sweet reminder of our own capabilities, get priorities right and give Humanity it’s due, for it is the only way life can be.
• Nature is both beautiful and powerful. We must alter our life choices to co-exist.
• Personal hygiene is not just for children. Sometimes that’s all one can do.
• No work is big or small.
• Not all wars are fought with weapons and violence isn’t always the winning strategy.
• There’s nothing a human can’t do under pressing situations.
• Families thrive on time together. So, it’s important to pause from the mundane, every now and then, just to be in the moment with the people who matter the most. For those who are lucky enough to experience lockdowns with families, I urge them to be graciously grateful and make the most of it! It’s the gift of time.. you would have made so many memories..
• Above all life is precious, every breath is a gift. Let’s not take it for granted.

Be kind.

Be compassionate.

Limit the Corona News blast. For every 10 mins of Corona, please give yourself 15 mins of something you enjoy, music, reading, chatting with a friend, playing with babies or our fur balls and so on… whatever brings joy or at least balances out the anxiety.

This too shall pass! I hope & pray we come out of it being better versions of ourselves and better humans.

Let’s stay safe, practice gratitude and spread kindness and compassion.

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