Accepting a New Normal is Challenging.

A tiny life moment lamenting the loss of monotony

The moment

By the third week of March, in India, schools and colleges start off with their new term. For most of us who work in schools and colleges, this calls for an additional workload. The tedium continues throughout April. We look forward to May for the summer break, to escape from the mundane monotony of school work and the rising heat.

This year was no different. We had just begun the new session. Suddenly, the government declared a complete ‘lockdown’. Schools and colleges were closed down.

We heard the news with trepidation because we anticipated a shorter summer break!

Initially, staying at home was fun. The schools are yet to reopen. The break has been too long. I miss my routine.

Reflections

Very often than not we realise the value of things only after losing them. That is because we tend to take things for granted. In our busy, scheduled routine life rarely do we sit and ponder how different yesterday was than today. Each day seems so similar to the previous day and so life seems mundane and boring. Seldom do we acknowledge how blessed we are to have escaped misfortunes affecting us. Many of those flash moments of happiness that have brought smiles on our face are not even realised not to think of being recognised.

For me, as a teacher, every class is never the same, every student is unique and every day is different. Yet, I see only the sameness everyday like going to school and returning at the same time, meeting the same set of colleagues, entering the same building for so many years. I was craving for a break to get away from the humdrum work at school. Why is it that I yearn to go back to the same monotony once again?

On my way to school as I used to pass a florist shop seeing those baskets of flowers on display, I used to smile inadvertently. This happened every day. I would not have known about it had my friend who travelled with me not observed and informed me.

Of all that the ‘lockdown’ due to the pandemic has taught me, one very important lesson I learned is to value every moment of our life.

Takeaways

• Strange are the ways of the human mind. It longs for what is distant and forbidden. We undermine the value of what we have.
• We get restless with monotony and yet can’t accept change willingly. That is probably because we fail to see the slight differences in our everyday sameness.

Thank you, Keno for including me in this weekend’s theme “Losing, Loss, and Lost”. Also, a big thanks for giving me those joyous moments by accommodating my stories in Tiny Life Moments.