Lessons learned from the 2020 Covid 19 lockdown
2020 certainly didn't start off well, and it doesn't look like the year will turn pink and dewy later on. On the contrary it might be a while into 2021 that we might all start feeling normal again. So this year is a write off.
It definitely sucked when meticulous travel plans had to be cancelled, birthday parties and celebrations had to be limited to virtual ones and Zoom calls; with schools closing up children had to be entertained and taken care of at home, and basically living on edge due to fear of infection.
But with the lockdown almost coming to an end, I keep thinking of the lessons learned in the past 40 odd days. Here are my top six:
1. That Maslow's theory of Hierarchy is true. Food, Water, Shelter and rest were priorities this lockdown. As long as those needs were fulfilled, lounging around in PJs and old, old T-shirts didn't feel like such a bad thing. I mean, do malls need to even open? (Okay, don't shoot me yet)
2. For the very first time in my life, an event occurred that was felt all over the world. Covid 19 was a global pandemic with over 4,900,000 cases registered across over 200 countries and territories. Suddenly novel coronavirus word was on everyone's lips and #stayathome was the need of the hour. For once, a person in India could relate to someone in US or Italy. The WHO declared coronavirus infection as a pandemic on January 30, 2020 and it got the attention of the world. India went into a nationwide lockdown from 25th March 2020. For once we were all on the same side, praying for deliverance from the virus, praying for fellow sisters and brothers all over the world who were losing the battle to the virus, relating to stayathome memes and stories and basically just all living as one, although in different parts of the world. This was as near to a global event that could happen after probably the World Wars.
3. That sometimes pondering over what to cook for the next meal is a blessing. It meant one had a choice, which of course could not be said millions who didn't know when or where their next meal was coming from. Every morsel ate during this period, felt like a blessing. There was shortage of vegetables and fruits, some essentials and of course all of the non-essentials. But even then, meals were wholesome and satisfactory.
4. That we can run around and try to take control of the world, with our industrialization and unchecked growth, spouting pollution and gases that are killing other life forms faster than we can run through a toothpaste, but nature has its way. And if we don't take care of our planet, we might simply not be around to do much damage to it. During the Covid 19 lock down it was heartwarming to see nature reclaim itself in cities and towns. Pictures surfaced of dolphins frolicking in the waters of France, aquatic life blooming in the still waters of Venice, sea gulls in a deserted beach in France, kangaroos hoping about on main roads in Adelaide, a fox captured walking on 10 Downing Street wild animals loitering around in major cities... you name it. The pictures were a reminder of how much attention we have stolen from the other species who inhabit the world with us...it was so easy to overlook and take them for granted when we were going about our businesses.
5. That wastefulness is controlled better when we homemakers are the helm. Maids and cooks cant be burdened with the task of controlling wastage in my house. It isn't their house. I learnt that if I wanted to extend my resources to last the lockdown, I needed to be more involved; this was something that couldn't be delegated. With restaurants being shut and with limited take away options, all of us were getting int the kitchen trying to prepare meals with efficient use of resources. Left overs were not discarded absently. They were turned into delicious rolls, sandwiches, curries for the next day. #wantnotwastenot was the new mantra...along with #stayathome of course. #somethingscookingwithalpa
6. This last lesson was the most hardest. That when you are an migrant worker/labourer, you are a faceless, religion-less, valueless entity...just a number to fill records. Not one community came forward to adopt them or to take care. They were the most affected and vulnerable in this whole lockdown situation. Images of hordes of them trying to get back to their homes throwing all social distancing norms to the wind, of tired, helpless ones getting run down by train while they were sleeping on the tracks, of many getting killed in freak accidents on the highway as they trudge thousands of kilometers to reach their home town...all very difficult to watch.
Voluntary organizations and individuals came to their rescue. The government soon took notice of them, some attempts made to safely get them to their destinations, financial aids announced, but it will take a while for some clarity in understanding the effects of this lockdown on this vulnerable section of India's population. then and I think for a long time to come they are going to be hopefully taken into consideration for financial aids.
2020 certainly didn't start off well, and it doesn't look like the year will turn pink and dewy later on. On the contrary it might be a while into 2021 that we might all start feeling normal again. So this year is a write off.
It definitely sucked when meticulous travel plans had to be cancelled, birthday parties and celebrations had to be limited to virtual ones and Zoom calls; with schools closing up children had to be entertained and taken care of at home, and basically living on edge due to fear of infection.
But with the lockdown almost coming to an end, I keep thinking of the lessons learned in the past 40 odd days. Here are my top six:
1. That Maslow's theory of Hierarchy is true. Food, Water, Shelter and rest were priorities this lockdown. As long as those needs were fulfilled, lounging around in PJs and old, old T-shirts didn't feel like such a bad thing. I mean, do malls need to even open? (Okay, don't shoot me yet)
2. For the very first time in my life, an event occurred that was felt all over the world. Covid 19 was a global pandemic with over 4,900,000 cases registered across over 200 countries and territories. Suddenly novel coronavirus word was on everyone's lips and #stayathome was the need of the hour. For once, a person in India could relate to someone in US or Italy. The WHO declared coronavirus infection as a pandemic on January 30, 2020 and it got the attention of the world. India went into a nationwide lockdown from 25th March 2020. For once we were all on the same side, praying for deliverance from the virus, praying for fellow sisters and brothers all over the world who were losing the battle to the virus, relating to stayathome memes and stories and basically just all living as one, although in different parts of the world. This was as near to a global event that could happen after probably the World Wars.
3. That sometimes pondering over what to cook for the next meal is a blessing. It meant one had a choice, which of course could not be said millions who didn't know when or where their next meal was coming from. Every morsel ate during this period, felt like a blessing. There was shortage of vegetables and fruits, some essentials and of course all of the non-essentials. But even then, meals were wholesome and satisfactory.
4. That we can run around and try to take control of the world, with our industrialization and unchecked growth, spouting pollution and gases that are killing other life forms faster than we can run through a toothpaste, but nature has its way. And if we don't take care of our planet, we might simply not be around to do much damage to it. During the Covid 19 lock down it was heartwarming to see nature reclaim itself in cities and towns. Pictures surfaced of dolphins frolicking in the waters of France, aquatic life blooming in the still waters of Venice, sea gulls in a deserted beach in France, kangaroos hoping about on main roads in Adelaide, a fox captured walking on 10 Downing Street wild animals loitering around in major cities... you name it. The pictures were a reminder of how much attention we have stolen from the other species who inhabit the world with us...it was so easy to overlook and take them for granted when we were going about our businesses.
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| Sea gulls in a deserted beach in France |
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| Fox walking down 10 Downing Street |
5. That wastefulness is controlled better when we homemakers are the helm. Maids and cooks cant be burdened with the task of controlling wastage in my house. It isn't their house. I learnt that if I wanted to extend my resources to last the lockdown, I needed to be more involved; this was something that couldn't be delegated. With restaurants being shut and with limited take away options, all of us were getting int the kitchen trying to prepare meals with efficient use of resources. Left overs were not discarded absently. They were turned into delicious rolls, sandwiches, curries for the next day. #wantnotwastenot was the new mantra...along with #stayathome of course. #somethingscookingwithalpa
6. This last lesson was the most hardest. That when you are an migrant worker/labourer, you are a faceless, religion-less, valueless entity...just a number to fill records. Not one community came forward to adopt them or to take care. They were the most affected and vulnerable in this whole lockdown situation. Images of hordes of them trying to get back to their homes throwing all social distancing norms to the wind, of tired, helpless ones getting run down by train while they were sleeping on the tracks, of many getting killed in freak accidents on the highway as they trudge thousands of kilometers to reach their home town...all very difficult to watch.
Comments
Sarah
@Sarah - Hope you are fine there. It seriously is crazy and scary. Need to build immunity and hope for the best.