It has been more than seventy-five days since the Covid-19 pandemic-induced lockdown commenced. What was news in another part of the world suddenly turned our lives upside down. In the beginning, the measures were about precaution but with five lockdown extensions, the fear of the virus and its impact is palpable. I worry about my family, friends, colleagues, and the fate of the world.
Every time I find myself worrying during this troubled period, I list out everything I deserve to be grateful for and the mere act of gratitude grounds me. I would like to share some of the important things that we can be grateful for during this pandemic.
- Livelihood - We should appreciate the fact, that we have jobs and the flexibility to work from home and earn a living during these troubled times when we know of so many underprivileged people who struggle to make ends meet.
- Family - Some of us are lucky to be together with our closed ones and we should feel blessed while there are many people still living apart, in different parts of the country or world. People working in UK and US shifts generally do not get time to spend with their kids during the weekdays. Working from home is giving everyone the opportunity to do so.
- Technology - We should be grateful for the technological advancements that let us stay in touch while being able to check in on our friends and relatives if they are safe and well. All it takes is the click of a button on an app!
- Food and shelter – With the lockdown, I have grown to appreciate the value of the three meals I have access to in the comfort of my home. The news shows us how migrant workers are stuck at borders - starving and without a roof over their heads. We must never take these basic needs for granted.
- Health workers - Most importantly, we should be grateful to the frontline workers (Medical Staff, Cleaning Workers, Police, Government Officials, etc.) who are risking their lives to protect and keep us safe during this pandemic.
Even in this crisis, we must make the most of our opportunities – find new hobbies, learn new personal or professional skills, exercise. We can think about the little things to be happy about – watering a plant in the balcony, watching a funny movie with our kids, trying to make a new dish.
As adults, we try to plan for as much as we can – securing our daily lives with jobs, our health with insurance plans, our future with retirement plans. But as we have learnt now, we cannot control everything.
So, let us all stay positive, use technology as much as possible to work together and function effectively, connect with each other, find inner peace, be kinder towards each other a
And hopefully, when this is all over, we will be ready to get back out there and do better!
~ Naren Sundaram
Associate Director – Enterprise Business Assurance