Happy new year!
I wish you a happy and prosperous new year!
What a delight it is to publish the seventh edition of Call to Action on the first day of the new year. I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity every fortnight to say something to you. I am also grateful for your likes and feedback :)
2020 has been incredibly tricky for most of us. This edition is solely going to be a reminder to be kind to yourself and those around you.
We have endured a lot of heartache last year. Some of us lost loved ones to the virus. Some of us sacrificed spending time with family to keep them safe. Some of us lost our income. ALL of us were affected by the virus.
Imagine for a moment - you and your friend are walking in a desert. It’s a terribly long journey under the scorching sun. There is no end in sight. The times are difficult and the food is scarce but your friend is there, going through the same hardship with you. You share the experience of what seems to be a never ending journey with your friend. This makes the two of you become closer to each other. You have built a special friendship. You now know each other better and are more empathetic.
2020 was that journey for the entire humankind. Having shared this special experience, remember to be kind and empathetic towards yourself and everyone you meet.
The news about the virus from all directions was draining our energy. As a result, most of us did not have enthusiasm for other things in life. We were constantly worried about spreading the virus to our loved ones. We endured lock downs to protect ourselves and neighbours. The sudden changes we were forced to accept were unprecedented. It affected our mental well being. Is that not a good enough reason to be kind?
We adopted like never before. Unless any of us were alive through the 1918 Spanish flu, there was no way we were going to be prepared for this pandemic. Yet, all of us adopted in changing our lifestyles, spending more time indoors, working from home and in reducing social interactions in real world. This was not easy for any of us.
We have learned so much. Not by reading books - but by living through a pandemic. By having to explain to our kids about the virus. About why they cannot go to school or to visit their grandparents. And by re-evaluating our priorities in life.
It is immaterial whether we have achieved anything outstanding this year. We survived. We managed to carry our lives forward with tiny steps each day despite the virus dragging us down. Let us celebrate the tiny steps.
Here’s to more tiny steps in 2021! Be safe and have a blessed year ahead.