Why Me?Oh-Me-Cron!! (Why Me Omicron?) : 3 min read

 Why Me?-Oh-Me-Cron!!

(Why Me Omicron?)

Fun fact, Covid19 arrived on my birthday! [1]And the omicron was classified as a VOC[2] on my wedding anniversary![3] And in the New Year, it finally caught up with me. I'm hoping the coincidences end there, but they make me squirm when mentioned. The world was about to take a deep breath. Yet, hopes of the virus resembling the common cold came crashing as omicron had different plans. The pandemic has exhausted us and no one is spared from fear and apprehension. I have been anxious many times over. But trust in God, remaining informed, and laughter kept me grounded.

 

My only concern was that my daughter was still unvaccinated. I tracked every update on children's vaccination. She also registered on Cowin in the hopes of receiving the vaccine by the first week of January. But we both tested positive a day before the intended date. I felt disappointed and completely defeated. Overwhelmed, by questions on what good was it being so careful, I had no answers.

 

Sure, Covid got us and we became infected. It made me look stupid since I stayed isolated, declining invitations, excursions and social gatherings. I could, however, breathe "guilt-free", knowing we hadn't been careless or inconsiderate. Hence even though the infection was a surprise exam, the question paper wasn’t difficult.

 

Two weeks of exclusive mother-daughter bonding came as a bonus. And yes, we survived each other's company!

 

So why am I saying all this?

 

Definitely not a popular thought! But I won't hesitate to say that the risk of running through the entire Greek alphabet is not overruled. Following this, there is every possibility of more variants. And, as much as we all desire it to go away, this virus is here to stay. But, future illnesses may not resemble the ones we are familiar with.

 

Here's what I learned during our confinement:

 

1. Whether you're sick or the caregiver, stay calm and be reasonable.

2. A network of caring people keeps you cheerful. Unless you're too ill or constrained, stay connected.

3. If the virus spared you, be thoughtful. Offer help and be available. Even a simple text can cheer folks who may otherwise feel isolated.

4. The pandemic has revealed many advantages of our smartphones. Make the best use of it.

5. Have fun - We all know the saying “laughter is the best medicine”,[4] Proverbs 17:22. “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones”. Meaning laughter heals. Psychologist Sean Truman also says, “comedy can serve as mental armour to ensure safe passage through tragic times.”[5]

6. Reading can be difficult during illness. View content, including movies, videos and reels.

7. Stay informed. Never before in human history has there been such a wealth of information at our disposal. But stay watchful of "Social Media University"! Learn, unlearn and relearn – repeat.

8. Let’s get humble - insolence is still the worst contributor to this pandemic. The virus has taken us by our scruff and we cannot be “too careful”.

9. Think about yourself and everyone else in the process. We must aim for normalcy, any unnecessary rush may further the pandemic. Make room for the essentials.

In the words of António Guterres, “This is a time for prudence, not panic. Science, not stigma. Facts, not fear.”[1] The past two years made us resilient. We developed new ways to deal with the emerging times. So let good sense, collectedness, knowledge and courage prevail. And we will emerge stronger from this battle.

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[1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/first-covid-19-case-can-be-traced-back-to-november-2017-in-chinas-hubei-province-report/articleshow/7

[2] Variant of Concern

[3] https://www.who.int/news/item/26-11-2021-classification-of-omicron-(b.1.1.529)-sars-cov-2-variant-of-concern

[4] https://mrfeelgood.com/articles/the-best-medicine-laughter#:~:text=The%20saying%20%E2%80%9Claughter%20is%20the,of%20the%20King%20James%20Bible.&text=And%20Sigmund%20Freud%2C%20the%20father,stress%20in%20times%20of%20crisis.

[5] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-humor-idUSKBN21B33Y

[6] https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/covid-19-we-will-come-through-together

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