Appreciating Nature….
To be honest, I don’t think I am learning anything good. My experiences have been different. I can never be confined to one place. I have always liked travelling. To be confined within the four walls of my house feels like hell. I did get my house painted and realigned many things around the house too just before the COVID – 19 lock-down. But I guess this whole thing still looks like a dark phase to me….
I am a typical IT professional. I don’t get breaks because we have to support the business continuity plan. So from 9.30 in the morning to 7.30 – 8 in the evening, my day is as busy as it used to be when I was in office. In fact, I have become busier than ever because we have no domestic help. So time management has become vital now.
Hmmmm…. Well, when I actually sit back and think about it, I do get to spend a little extra time with my plants. I understand that it is important to water our plants at the right time and that my plants enjoy morning showers just the way I do. Such small things too make a big difference to them and I can see all this too. If I miss watering them even for one day, the harsh sun makes them dry and that makes me sad.
Another key thing that I learnt is that I need to be aware of what is happening around us rather than having a casual attitude about it all. My car was sealed this morning when I stepped out to buy my veggies and fruits. I tried all the available options and did my best to negotiate with the police but had no luck at all. So I guess I learnt that I just had to follow rules and not take things for granted.
I feel deeply touched when I see the numbers rising at a global level. One particular incident lingered in my heart for a long while and that was a scene in which the dead bodies were lying on the street in Ecuador. I mean there is no one to put them in a cemetery too. What kind of a pandemic are we dealing with? Such things make no sense to me…..
Being Grateful
If there is one thing that I have learnt from Corona Virus lock-down it is this: I appreciate my maid a lot now. I wonder how she did so much work around our house. She was quick, meticulous and always had a smile on her face.
In fact, we have become busier during the lock-down because we have to do all the work that she did for us earlier. No, I don’t think I have ever taken her for granted. I have always appreciated her efforts. But I realized her true worth only now during the lockdown. Right now, I am really grateful to her for helping us out for so many years without complaining. That’s the reality…so of course, yes, you can write about it if you wish to.
Learning New Things
I have my online classes and exams. So I don’t have much time to do anything else. But yes. I have learnt a few things. We are all exposed to crowded areas. All the time. But now I have realized how important personal hygiene is. Luckily, I was at home when the lock-down was announced.
I miss my friends and the fun we used to have together in our college. There was always something exciting happening in college. Also, I loved moving around to get all my work done. I am finding it difficult to survive without going out. So, I guess I get bored quite often even though I am at home and I am studying. But I did cook a couple of new things like kurma with kothu parotha and a three-layered baked dish. Also, I am learning to read and write Gujarati and I find that quite interesting.
Understanding Contentment…
From a business point of view, I think we have been following the practice of cash payments for years now. Technology has helped a great deal during the lock-down and online payments have become the norm now. But you know what the best part of this lock-down is?
Well, I have understood the value of family time. We were always busy running around doing something or the other. And all that has come to a standstill now. Actually, only if we get a total disconnect like this from the continuous hustle and bustle of our lives can we realize our worth and the worth of our lives too. I also strongly feel that a society is of no use at such times. Finally, it all comes down to our immediate family members.
My heart goes out to our helpers and maids. I respect them because they work for us without any complaints. “Are we truly independent?” is a thought that often crosses my mind now. Are we not dependent on them? We are able to run all our errands and enjoy ourselves only because they take care of our work. No?
Also, the father is able to spend more time at home now. So there is a sense of balance in the family. I can see that my children have become more attached to their father now.
My kids too are learning to help us with our household chores. They too are learning the value of patience. Also, we have learnt to curb unnecessary expenses. And we all have more time to pursue our hobbies and play with our family.
Our house is on the main road next to the station. I would always find lorries and buses rushing down the road whenever I went out. I could never sit on our swing because these vehicles would create so much dust and pollution. But now I am able to sit peacefully on our swing with my children and family and we all enjoy the beauty of our garden.
Also, I have also learnt to manage my cooking with limited resources. I understand how valuable a trait that is. Most important of all, I thank God for the food that we get to eat – when I see and hear of others who are struggling to cope with the lock-down and a pandemic like Carona…
Being Clear About Priorities
What did I learn? Well, I realized that it’s important to spend quality time at home with family. We have been cooking, playing board games and watching movies during the lock-down. All this especially feels great because we have been away in the US for quite a while. I have been colouring, exercising, and reading novels.
I will continue to do so even after this quarantine phase gets over and we get back to leading busy lives again. More importantly, I have started appreciating the simple freedom that we had of just stepping out of the house whenever we liked and going wherever we wanted.