Is this it? Is this what it was all culminating towards? Did we, as humankind, make our years worthwhile? Did we achieve anything? Was our run even about achieving? How long do I have to make something of it?
All of this sounds like it came from a doomsday, dystopian fiction written by George Orwell or Margaret Atwood. Unfortunately, This is what has been tumbling up and down my brain since the beginning. The beginning of the end, that is. All these contemplative thoughts come from a mind of a 15 year old, dwelling over an issue that has taken the whole planet in its grasp, and will seemingly spare no one.
If the obvious hasn’t struck you, I am talking about COVID-19, and the state of emergency humankind is in.
A time like this really propels you to ask yourself if Jean Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche and other like minded nihilists were correct. Maybe we are and will be nothing. But remember, you have to stay strong, press on, and keep hope in your heart.
Bittersweet is all that takes to describe this lockdown.
On one hand, you finally have what you’ve been yearning for – Time. Time to do anything and everything you have been day dreaming about while you were trying to study for your Social Science board exam. Time to finally start exercising, after delaying it for incomputable number of times because “you had a rough day”. Time to finally start reading that novel which has been sitting on top of the bookshelf collecting dust, which you couldn’t read because “exams were just round the corner”. Time to finally start binge watching all the shows you added to your list and having Bollywood movie marathons with your family. There are countless things to do. There are innumerable skills to develop. For me, this time has been the most productive I have been in months. I am learning how to cook, I have been catching up on my reading, I also picked up the habit of reading newspapers again, which was a fantastic activity which I slowly left behind as I grew older. The screens haven’t been getting much rest either. And how can they? ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ will not watch itself. And you certainly have to tap on everyone’s Instagram stories and watch how they’re making Dalgona Coffee.
All of this feels euphoric in the beginning. For two, even three weeks you are on cloud nine. You are the most relaxed you’ve been your entire life. But then, it all fades away. “What is time?” you start to wonder. “What are days, weeks, months, years even?” you ask yourself. For you, now time is nothing but a passing non stop. It moves ahead, but you stay where you were, doing the dishes and mopping the floor. The only thing you do all day is play Ludo and PUBG with your supportive friends. You get dejected, lonely, and demotivated. But remember, you have to stay strong, press on, and keep hope in your heart.
Let’s not forget the other side of the coin. The side many of us have buried deep inside us. The side of panic, uncertainty and anxiety. The side which has made people buy toilet paper by the dozens. The side of our unstable future. This situation has brought about immense worry and distress, among rich and poor, white and black, men and women alike. The virus doesn’t see your colour, your gender, your financial status, your resumé. Everyone is scared for themselves, their families, and what their future will be like. Waking up everyday has become a risk, for me and billions of others as well. Our resources are tiring out, out economy is crashing, the best scientists are working hard everyday and have almost nothing to show for it. The world is on its knees and we, as citizens can do nothing about it than stay inside. As a kid, this idea terrifies me and similarly, my peers are frightened as well. Unfortunately, the number of those who are infected just rises everyday. But remember, you have to stay strong, press on, and keep hope in our heart.
In these uncertain times, it’s important to stay positive. Help yourself, and help those who can’t help themselves. We need to believe in our leaders. We should be thankful of those who are risking their lives to help us, and tell the ones we love, that we love them. We should be grateful that we are safe everyday. Things might get tough, things might not go our way all the time. But remember, you have to stay strong, press on, and keep hope your heart.
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