(Second of Two Parts)
I REMEMBER at the start of the enhanced community quarantine, there was a palpable sense of dread. Oh yes, there was! We go to the grocery and see people who hurriedly go about their business, us included. Worse, we barely recognize people we meet because of the ubiquitous face masks.
Then came the different modes of quarantine that people initially supported wholeheartedly for fear of contracting the disease and worse, dying from it. Yes, death has its frightening reputation.
However, eventually after months of limitations and restrictions, the very same people started to complain about the quarantine measures as the same directly impacted their means to earn.
Fast forward to the present. Government is confronted by the acute need to balance public health vis-Ă -vis the economy. The business sector, the professionals, the entrepreneurs, the ordinary citizens, the young and the old, women and men, clamored to open the economy because of the sting of financial hardship.
Government, while trying to manage the pandemic, also wanted to help its citizens eke out a living, hence, the calibrated steps to open the economy â by phases.
Naturally, all these did not happen overnight. This happened after a series of evaluation, reevaluation, and a string of conflicts, mudslinging, even vulgarity, and what have you!
Itâs sad but true. The best and worst of humanity surfaces during a crisis! Tempers flare; tongues wag; anxiety levels go up; insomnia visits; ad infinitum. But the good side also comes out. Generosity, kindness, thoughtfulness, caring, and so on. We can never label people absolutely.
Of course, we have our natural tendencies to avoid some types of characteristics that cause us stress. I mean, why not? This pandemic is stressful enough! For our peace of mind, we opt to connect with low-maintenance people.
Oh well, choices, choices. Life indeed is a series of choices. Jobs, relationships, day-to-day living, the nitty-gritty of life â we all need to make informed decisions about each one or all of them, one way or the other. Thatâs how life goes. This thought is inspired by the book Maximize the Moment by T.D. Jakes.
However, the lessons of this pandemic are not lost on us. We came out better and wiser; our leadership tried and tested; and the pseudo leaders purged and exposed.
And so, December, here we are! If you look around, it seems weâre back to normal! I am pleased though that a significant number of our kababayan have unfailingly complied with the non-pharmaceutical protocols. These health and safety protocols will protect the community from infecting each other. What could be more patriotic than that? Complying with these protocols is simple and yet profound.
As I write this, I remember the many friends I have whose desire to travel was disrupted by this pandemic. Perhaps, COVID-19 is also a great equalizer. For with it, everyoneâs travel plans were shelved irrespective of status, age, and gender. Everyone had to confine to quarters, so to speak.
I also remember those who found new jobs and quit jobs for many reasons. Some for another adventure of their young lives â after all this COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented; some for professional growth; some others for boredom; while some others for a miniscule salary. Choices, choices.
Whatever the reason, life goes on. Remember, life will not wait on you. Life goes on, with or without you, as T.D. Jakes says in his book, Maximize the Moment.
So, with December, the Christmas season, our hopes go up for a better 2021. Indeed! I have high hopes myself. I had plans that were shelved because of the pandemic. I pray that it will be realized in 2021.
Our primary hope is to travel again sans all the requirements. Our hope is for policy makers to come up with a travel category other than âessentialsâ and âtouristsâ to enable us to visit our birthplaces again. Yes, why not? We are sticklers to health and safety protocols. We are good citizens of the republic!
So, we forge forward, armed with newfound knowledge about ourselves through this pandemic; about our limits to be creative; about our capacity to be resilient.
Life goes on. God leads the way!
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Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
