PC THOMAS: It is one year since India entered coronavirus-related lockdowns, followed by the phased unlocks and easing restrictions. We have realized that our life is fundamentally altered from how it was prior to the pandemic Covid 19 and the consequent lockdowns.

The deadly coronavirus which spread across the globe has caused an unprecedented health crisis, bringing a feeling of helplessness, panic, death, economic upheaval and uncertainty about the future, the world has been halted more than ever before and many radical changes have taken place in our lives. The one-year Covid period, however, has made us realize how vulnerable we are and how dependent we are on simple things that we usually take for granted.

As per latest reports, over the past one year, the coronavirus infected more than 121 million people around the world and snatched 2.6 million lives in nearly 200 countries, as countries battled the pandemic with unprecedented social-distancing measures and lockdowns. 

We have seen that many people are suffering physically and mentally due to the fast spreading virus that has already taken so many lives. However, if we try to look at the brighter side of everything, when we are in bad situations, we can see some positivity hidden in the tragedies.  

Covid 19 can provide us with such wisdom beyond our comprehension revealing to us how fragile and how interconnected we are and how precious our life is. It offers us a plethora of lessons at personal, regional and global levels, showing the urgency to bring about transformations in our society to meet the challenges of the twenty first century.

The past one year has been extremely difficult, but the people of India have been resilient. Although vaccinations gather momentum, spread of new coronavirus variants poses a serious risk. Until the second dose of vaccines is widely administered, everyone needs to follow the public health advice and take measures to protect themselves and their loved ones.

As we continue to navigate through this pandemic, it is enormously significant that we adopt collaborative approach, focus on civic guidelines, remain vigilant and continue to follow the proven public health best practices. Let us be confident that we will overcome this crisis.

This crisis also helps us to find additional meaning in our lives. Little things surprisingly become very important.  Helping others, especially those who are in our immediate surroundings, elevates our own mood. 

Covid 19 times has helped us to transform our vision of life for better and to develop our character. A crisis like this teaches us lessons that we would not have learned when everything is normal or pleasant. We are the sum total of the experiences that we gather in our lives. As human beings, when we encounter a challenge, we have the liberty to respond to it as we think right. Every decision that we make leads us down a different road.

We shall also boost our resilience, which is our single best weapon for dealing with stress, by being grateful for things we have, and not focusing on what we do not. Even if those difficult moments seem to break us, we have incredible strength within us that can move us forward. Although many unforeseen transformations are brought to our lifestyle, we can use this time more effectively, and the crisis can be changed into an opportunity to better the quality of our lives! Indeed an opportunity for private victories!