As I reflect about all that has happened in 2020, I ask myself, “Will we ever be able to go back to living our lives like we did before COVID -19?”
I don’t know the answer to that question but one thing that is absolutely certain, is that it has changed how I see life forever. Life itself is so delicate—we absolutely cannot take it for granted!
If someone told any of us in January 2020, that by April 2020, all of the streets in Paris would be empty; or that nobody would be able to go for Hajj at Mecca; or that the whole world would be on lockdown, with almost all borders closed—we would definitely have thought they were delusional. However, that is what has become our unexpected reality.
2020 will forever be the year we learned that going out for a walk in the park became a privilege, not a right; that our children can actually stay home from school for six months without us losing our minds (although I almost lost mine); and that going to say, “hi” to your neighbour could mean a death sentence if one of you had COVID-19.
Regardless, there are a few things COVID -19 also taught us. It has taught us that human beings can be essentially good. It has made some of us realize the importance of teachers who teach our children and how they are a part of our lives through our kids. It has made us give more respect and appreciation to our essential workers (like the grocery store clerks, nurses, doctors, first responders, fire fighters and our police force more) who put their lives on the line for our needs to be met. It has also made us realise that we had taken many things for granted in life, and showed us that the things we thought mattered didn’t really matter that much in the big scheme of things.
Usually, I get my hair and nails done monthly, but during the pandemic I had the same hairstyle from March till July and didn’t get my nails done for four months. But honestly, I was just grateful that I was alive and safe at home with my family.
This pandemic brought out the fragilities in our society. We saw that the societal structures, which we took for granted, could collapse without notice. For the first time in a long time, I was truly grateful I live in Canada. I know life is not perfect in Canada but the kindness of fellow Canadians irrespective of race or beliefs touched my heart deeply. I really hope that we as a society can build towards a better future for our children and that lessons learned during this pandemic will not be taken for granted and forgotten when life returns to normal.
Never forget that life is delicate. Do not take it for granted.
Uju Ukpeh
