Summary

The author reflects on the personal and global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, expressing ambivalence about the transition back to normal life amid ongoing health concerns and personal growth during lockdown.

Abstract

The article delves into the author's emotional journey through the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, detailing the chaos and personal challenges faced before the world came to a standstill due to COVID-19. Despite the initial chaos and personal struggles, including anxiety and a hectic work schedule, the lockdown provided the author with a much-needed pause and a second chance to reassess life priorities. The author grapples with the fear of returning to pre-pandemic routines, preferring the solitude and safety of home, yet acknowledges the necessity of reopening the economy to ensure financial stability. The narrative underscores the importance of adaptability and gratitude, while also highlighting the Indian government's phased approach to lifting lockdown restrictions, despite the country's continued rise in cases.

Opinions

The author expresses a deep sense of anxiety and chaos due to personal and global events prior to the pandemic.
There is a clear appreciation for the rare opportunity provided by the lockdown to reset and reassess one's lifestyle and work-life balance.
The author admits to developing an aversion to returning to the previous social life and fears the risks associated with the relaxation of lockdown measures.
A sense of gratitude is conveyed for the safety and protection experienced during the pandemic, as well as for the chance to witness and adapt to a new way of living.
The author recognizes the economic necessity behind the government's decision to reopen the economy, despite the health risks involved.
There is an underlying acceptance of the unpredictability of the future and the impermanence of situations, influenced by parental advice.
The author advocates for personal responsibility in taking precautions while resuming outdoor activities, emphasizing the need to coexist with the virus.
A call to action is made for readers to support writers on Medium by becoming members or through direct contributions, such as buying the author a coffee.

Are we ready to live a normal life yet again?

I am still having panic attacks while going out for vegetables and grocery runs.

It was September 2019; I could feel everything was falling apart. Right from bush fires to flooding to a huge number of flight delays and cancellations to communal violence to major road accidents, and much more! It was chaos all around the world.

The work schedule got more hectic. Deadlines and more deadlines. Crazy tax updates. I could feel my Travel Company is in the middle of the storm.

Anger filled the room. I was drowned in anxiety and prayed that I want to reset everything for once. I need a second chance to fix all mess I got myself into unknowingly. I was happy with my work but wanted to learn more things. I can’t do anything monotonous.

I hardly left with time even to watch one episode of the series and chill out. I couldn’t even meet my friends because I was loaded with work.

It started getting worse in January 2020. It was high time that I need to learn to balance my professional and personal life. I was needed at home more because of my mother's arthritis problem making her weaker.

And then comes February end. Chinese New Year week when the spread of a novel coronavirus shook the world. I had some pending applications from my high-end clients for a China Business Visa in the middle of it.

While having a 99% success rate of visas getting stamped, I cannot afford to get the rejection news even though they cannot travel to the country where the virus spread has started. They got the visas, and I was on cloud nine.

Never in my worst dream would I ever think that a virus will be pandemic and put the world to a halt. Not a city or county, but the whole world.

The past eight weeks have been challenging in ways that none of us has ever experienced or imagined in our wildest ever—strict lockdown imposed in many cities.

All means of transportation have been stopped, including flights. The world economy crashed like how the BrickBreak showed ‘collapsing lego brick tower crashes’ on youtube.

But, amid a pandemic, I was grateful to get the second chance I practically begged for months. The news filled with panic; the virus has killed many more people than any war did. China won World War 3 without arms. It was a virus—a silent war.

With new positive cases tested every hour for covid-19, a nightmare has become a part of our life. The same chill to the bones feeling we get while watching or reading a gripping mystery series.

The lockdown has taught us many things we won’t ever learn any other way.

A rare second chance we got to alter the way we are living. To go back to basics. To learn, we all are human, not a machine. To unlearn many things.

For some, living this new lifestyle and working from home seems addictive. A comfort of softness and safety under the roof surrounding greens is soothing in the midst of everything. Learning something new every day.

But something hit me pretty hard lately. The introvert in me is growing wild. Maybe anxiety, or maybe I am developing new things.

The little feeling that this lockdown shouldn’t be over soon. Because I am not ready yet to face the world again, I cannot go back to social life. I am not ready yet to live the normal life, which others are describing. I am scared to step out of the home.

Even though I do miss many things, I don’t want this to be over soon. But, I have accepted two things so far in life (invaluable advice from my parents) — ‘nothing is permanent, and the future is unpredictable.’

Amid the rapidly rising coronavirus cases, the Indian government (like other countries' governments) has decided to relax lockdown rules and open up the economy from June 1st, even as it continues to report more than 8000 new cases every day.

India is currently the seventh worst-hit country due to the pandemic, with over 1.9 lakh cases and 5,400+ deaths. They are re-opening major sectors because the government can’t help people financially anymore now.

The government has decided to open the economy in a phase-wise manner. Describing it as Unlock 1.0, in the first phase, the government has decided to open malls, hotels, places of worship, and restaurants from June 8th with social distancing norms and other precautions. Private and government offices have also been opened with staggered timings and workforce.

Whereas in the second phase, schools, colleges, and educational institutions would be re-opened in consultation with states and Union Territories.

Soon the government will start International travel too. In contrast, I can still not gather the courage to go out of my home for a walk.

I know this is a mistake.

The period just after the lifting of the lockdown is the most crucial for any country as that is where there would be a rise in the number of cases.

In India’s case, the problem is compounded as we are yet to flatten the curve. But I guess we have no option left now. It’s a matter of financial stability, and taking care of family. We have to live with the virus and take extra care of ourselves while we are out.

Let’s hope for the good days ahead and the return to normal life. For now, hug yourself and be grateful for this moment. Be grateful you are alive and healthy. Be grateful you are protected. Be grateful you are witnessing a brand new day with a touch of warm sun and spring wind.

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