The Chaos and the Calm

As human beings, we like to be prepared, to have a plan. From the minute we wake up, our day is dictated by our schedule, kept in check by the unforgiving ticking of the clock as we hustle to get from one place to the next, in this quest to do more, to be more.

Then there came a hurricane, sudden, unexpected, unprecedented, and claiming everything in its path, and all we could do was stay at home and wait for it to pass.

Coronavirus might have taken from us the freedom to go outside and socialize, but what it did give us in return was perspective. As we grew more distant from the ‘outside world’, we grew closer to ourselves and our loved ones. It taught us to celebrate the small victories and reminded us that it is often the small things that make for the greatest memories.

Adaptation is the key to survival and nothing has shown us that better than coronavirus. Whether it was adapting to the shift from college to online classes, from office meetings to zoom calls, and from gourmet food to ‘ghar-made’ food, we’ve done it all. It provided us with an impetus to think outside the box, to shed old routines and rid ourselves of stale habits to make place for newer, healthier ones.

“Few is plenty in a time of none”

The present times have further served to highlight the stark juxtaposition between poverty and plenty. As unemployment rates surge like never before and the economy takes a brutal hit, basic necessities such as hot food and a roof over one’s head are considered luxuries. Few is plenty in a time of none. It is in times of adversity that true character is revealed. It is our duty to step up and do what we can to help those less fortunate, be it spreading awareness, donating to NGOs, or supporting local businesses.

This pandemic made us appreciate the courage and sacrifice of healthcare personnel as they stand at the frontier, risking their lives each day. Sadly, it also revealed how ill-equipped the health care sector was to handle a crisis of this magnitude.

In these tempestuous times, whilst it may often feel like we are drowning in the sea of dismal statistics, it is important to cling on to that ray of hope. Positivity, perspective, and a sense of purpose are the only things that are keeping us moving forward. With the ever-building pressure to ‘be productive’ I find it helpful to have a list of small goals. Having a fixed routine and purpose helps foster a feeling of stability.

I like to think that change is like gravity, not always noticed or appreciated but always there. Though it may seem like the world has stopped, time continues to pass and it is up to us what we make of this time. Whether we chose it to learn and grow or to whine and wallow is a choice, our choice.

By Divya Samat,

Final MBBS,

KJ Somaiya Medical College

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