One Year Of Living the New Normal

Written and previously published in April 2021 

It has been 24 hours that I cut myself off from my phone and with that from the only social media that I have in it now- Whatsup app, to disconnect from the posts about people needing blood, plasma, beds and oxygen. For the last one week, my network has been buzzing with these kinds of messages and even with forwards of information about where to find the necessities much of which, I doubted, was authentic. It was discomforting and I decided to give myself a day off from all the buzz. And I sat down to simply pen down a few thoughts that have been bubbling inside me since some time in an attempt to make some sense of the situation we are in for more than a year now. 

It’s one year now.. More than that that we got introduced to a new way of living (so to say) which most of us (at least, I never did) had no inkling about. A pandemic with such far reaching effects sprouted from somewhere, caught us off guard and continues to keep us wondering what is all this coming to. Another year into pandemic, into isolation, into having too much and nothing to do at the same time, into some sort of bewilderment as to when will this end. I remember having a lot of questions regarding the situation last year, when it all started, they still remain but I have a new take on them now, a more comfortable perspective because of having lived a year into this. Let me take you through this bit more. 

Getting  used to the “Masked” me

We kind of have a love hate relationship with the mask, don't we? We don't like it to slip down but it is uncomfortable when it is right there especially while one speaks. I am done with experimenting with the patterns and varieties now I know the one that works best is the simplest type and that it is indeed nice to have a mask that goes with my apparel. Every
time I check in the mirror before setting out, nothing seems odd any longer as long as my eyes can smile…masks can’t really hide much.. Eyes were, perhaps, always enough. So that was about getting comfortable with the “masked” me finally.

Sinking my teeth into technology (read online communication)

I wasn’t fond of learning online and nor of teaching online. This year, I did both and loved it. Too much of online communication overwhelms me and that remains the same, however, the last lockdown, which was a different time in shared connectivity,  saw me tinkering out of my old comfort zone a bit and sharing more of me on the “statuses” because I had to share somewhere, somehow. All those youtubers that popped up in my network last year, have somewhat come down in enthusiasm but still, it’s great to have the social network buzzing even more. And one big leap is undoubtedly the live streaming of marriages… Woah, that just saved a lot of effort. 

One year of saying No and Walking out of redundant groups 

I struggled to walk off from redundant groups out of courtesy and out of hope that someday it might turn useful for me like it was at the time when I joined. Isn’t it impolite to leave Whatsapp groups? Oh no not at all. It’s fine to leave not just these virtual groups but to leave people itself. It’s okay to walk off from things that don't add happiness or value.. It’s okay to say no even to a job opportunity that sounds great on the surface but doesn't make you happy. It’s okay to close the options that are mere distractions on your path. 

The return of Engineer Vs Doctor Debate

The Doctor career got a new lease of life altogether with the outbreak of the pandemic. Reportedly, parents are now egging on the benefits of a career in healthcare as there is more security in it thanks to the pandemic. If nothing else, one can just start a Youtube channel giving “gyan” about precautions. I don't think we have seen any engineering or inventive marvel coming out in this pandemic but undoubtedly, technology is indeed making the world go round right now. 

Is this a perfect world for introverts?

I have refused to go to many parties and get together and always had to come with insufficient and seemingly dishonest reasons.. But in the Covid times, I am safe. I am neither invited to nor it is bad to refuse… SOCIAL DISTANCING after all. 

I wake up to birds chirping

How I love to listen to the Koel on the tree right next to my house with it’s branches tapering onto the terrace! It was, perhaps, always there but the noisy traffic reduced it to mere squeaks. Nonetheless, the sound has been clear since the last one year and I am loving it!

Fear driven actions/decisions

Have you noticed how much of our decisions are impacted by fear of the virus in the present times? From relocation for a new job to even whether i should go to a particular place or not I think of fear and it impacts my decisions. But..in general, fear does have say in whatever options we choose.. Fear of losing security, fear of being unemployed or that of being left alone or that of losing what we already have. Covid made me think of the fear factor in my life bit more and ask myself - when should i act out of fear and when with optimism?

Living the “New Normal” while hankering for the old times. 

In the book Anne Frank’s Diary, the girl and her family confine themselves to a bunker to avoid being caught from the Nazis. I can connect to that better now. In fact, at times, I feel I am inside a science fiction or simply dreaming of a bio war. 

Well, that was on a light note. But I do think we are lucky if nothing changes drastically for us, however, my heart leaps out to the unfortunate ones among us who lost their dear ones or even source of earning and went into financial despair. 

It is as if we are looking at the bright side through a dystopian view. Is there light at the end of this tunnel? This too shall, surely, pass.