As the World has Opened up - Part 2 : 2 min read

        The world feels more fragrant and beautiful than before!

I may sound prosaic and impractical but amidst the air of familiarity lingers a hint of the unusual. We are amenable, tolerant and more inclusive. This challenging time has been a pleasant surprise for me. And it is because I learnt that the significant changes had to be in me. I cannot be the same person having survived a pandemic. Some of the greatest life lessons are learnt during tough times and when we make mistakes. In this episode, I chose to ponder some more.

Home sweet home

Whatever happens outside, make your home pleasant. Build-in comfort, fun and little joys. I say make because the onus is on every individual to create a joyous sanctuary. When we create an ambience for others, it reflects on us!

The children are watching

Yes, they are! And it was an important lesson through this pandemic. As parents, we were unprepared as the challenges rushed like an avalanche. We didn’t know how to act. But, one thing was sure, the children were watching. Our response to adversity impacts our children. It echoes how they cope when life throws them the curveballs. We are their teachers, so we must learn well.

We depend on one another

The success or failure of humanity depends on everyone, irrespective of social hierarchy. We all must do our part in taking care of one another. The term essential workers gained importance during lock-downs. We must never forget the importance of the delivery staff. The truck drivers, factory workers, house helps and one another. When one part of the system breaks down, we all suffer. So we should work for the greater good of this world. The ordinary workforce is often told they can go. We would believe nobody was indispensable. Not anymore! The pandemic taught us a different lesson.

Never about “something”

Oh, the little white lies we keep telling ourselves! The lack of time, our circumstances, the denied opportunities, and constraints. The list goes on with the lament about the things we could do “if only...”

And I admit that my book is still not finalised, I haven’t lost adequate weight or finished the incomplete projects. I am trying to rectify these with a resolve to stop regretting them. Instead, concentrate on my effort. There’s a saying if it’s important to you, you will find the time. So I quit – from making more excuses.

Adaptability is the secret ingredient.

Planning is good, and goals are great. But adaptability is the key to it all. Some plans may get ruined, and many of our goals will be at least delayed and even more likely never realized. So, how do we cope? If you’re adaptable, you will figure it out. And now we know we can. We figured out a lot of “stuff” in the past two years.

Do it now!

If you want something, make it happen. Don’t wait. You never know what tomorrow brings. Post-retirement, a loghouse holiday, paragliding or further studies might not be possible. If you really want them, the time is now! And the best way is to take that first step.

“Someday is not a day of the week.”- Janet Dailey

Images are sourced from Google and are subject to copyright.