2020 is proving to be a year which we can never
forget. It has turned out to be a year
beyond our imaginations. It is a year when we don’t see our best laid plans
materializing. On social media, we see a lot of memes about the year 2020 and
have a hearty laugh. Well, that’s one - we are taking our difficulties and
limitations in a light hearted manner. I believe we have evolved in some way
this year. The human race which is so eager to always achieve success and is
always on its toes has learned to slow down. Lockdown, vaccine, pandemic and
quarantine are the words which we hear almost every day. I say ‘almost’ because
some of us have already given up on watching the news and keeping a track of
newly infected cases and death toll all over the world. Surely, the improving
percentage of recovery rate brings some glimmer. In times like these when we
feel there is only pessimism and hopelessness around, does there stand a chance
to think about positive aspects? Of course, yes! If we think of it, 2020 is not
only about losses, but also of some things that we have gained.
The first thing that we have learned or should
learn during lockdown is to be grateful with what we have, especially at times
when we read or hear reports about people losing jobs or are finding it
difficult to make both ends meet. We have the facility to work from home and
earn our salaries, while there are countless others who have to step out to
earn their daily bread. We have learned to be grateful to all the ‘Covid
warriors’ like doctors, nurses, cleaning staff and policemen who put their
lives at risk to help others. Secondly, this pandemic has also taught us
dignity of labour. We often distinguish jobs as per economic conditions,
literacy and educational levels. It is only during this pandemic, when our
maids could not come to our homes that we realized that every little job,
however menial it may look, is important and we have to respect it.
Travel, the most looked forward to thing every
year, is a distant memory this year with the entire world coming to standstill
and not welcoming its guests with open arms. We don’t have attractive pictures
or fancy check-ins to post this year, but only throwback memories to share. I
can commiserate with all travelers this year whose plans have been postponed.
As I love to travel and explore new places, I had planned to visit Europe this
year and the entire itinerary was in place. I was excited to start the new
decade by visiting destinations that were on my list since a long time. Alas,
2020 had different plans for me and home became my only and safe destination. Never
did I imagine that world would become a closed place with so many restrictions.
Expecting the unexpected is the norm of this year! Looking at the brighter
side, when I think of my trip next year, I believe it will be a special one and
enjoy it even more because that trip would be a well-earned break from this
year’s forlornness.
Talking about the things gained and lost this
year, I am thankful that I didn’t gain one thing i.e. weight, all thanks to ghar ka khaana or home-made food. During normal times (that seems like ages
ago), weekends used to be packed with outings to restaurants and trying out
exotic dishes. Why just weekends, even the weekdays were treats to taste buds
when we went out with our colleagues to de-stress and enjoy some gala time
together outside office. Unfortunately, our wandering feet and experimental
minds have to take a break this year. But as they say, ‘Necessity is the mother
of invention’, we have turned our kitchens at home to prepare restaurant like
dishes which will alleviate our cravings for outside food to some extent. Thus,
we have learned (and mastered for some) the art of cooking and savour the food
prepared at home, however simple the meal may be. And of course there are
numerous culinary pages on social media as well to remind us of the former times
when we relished street food and also to encourage us to try new dishes at
home.
Lifestyle has changed for better. We have
become health conscious and disciplined. Washing hands at regular intervals,
maintaining cleanliness and avoiding going to crowded places are some practices
which have become way of life. We have become responsible citizens with basic
civic sense. This year there is no boisterous celebration of festivals, instead
they are being celebrated peacefully in the right sense, thus redefining the
meaning of festive fervour. Hopefully this mindset will continue for long.
Work from home has taught us to be more
efficient in absence of commuting hours which drained us of our energy. We have
cut down on frivolous spending of time. At times unfortunately we feel that the
demarcating line between home and office is vanishing and one should be mindful
to not lose one over the other. While we are accustomed to this new way of
working and we feel that holidays don’t make sense since we all are confined at
home, significance of periodic breaks from work should not be overlooked for
wellness of the mind. Thanks to online streaming platforms, I take my deserved
break by watching interesting shows and movies to drift my mind off the grave
environment around.
We are spending only on necessities these days,
which of course is not great for an economy which also thrives on comfort and
luxury goods. So while we emerge as winners of simplicity and modest life, the
economy loses on a huge chunk of consumer base for various products. One’s loss
is someone’s gain. While we miss going out to theatres and watching movies, we
have online streaming platforms at our disposal to bring theatres to our homes
by releasing entertainment content in form of movies and series almost in every
week. We miss the experience of munching (exorbitantly priced) popcorn at the
theatres while watching a movie, but in a way that is just contributing to our
money-saving mentality for a future that looks intimidating after wading
through a challenging year like 2020.
Such times have also emphasized the need of
sound mental health when everything around seems uncertain and hazy. We have a
strong pillar in form of family who is always there to listen to us and stand
by us. Thus, this pandemic has given us the opportunity to rekindle bonds with
our loved ones to talk and share our feelings. We have also gained a sense of
nostalgia for all the pleasant memories that symbolized a simple and happy life
sans latest technology and gadgets, by watching the re-runs of our favourite
shows or going through the childhood photo albums like I did. While it is said
that progress and advancement are good, these happier times make me want to go
back in time.
Nothing lasts forever. These disparaging
moments too shall pass. Economies will bounce back and start circulating money
to build up a shaken world. World will be a mobile place once again. Losses
will be recovered slowly and steadily. Life will get back to normal. However,
2020 will be engraved on my mind which will make me revisit the profit and loss
account of my life and make me pat my back for the profit that I made in terms of
good habits , health, and improved outlook towards life. This profit would be
the kind that I would like to carry forward to every year of my life!
