All for One, and One for All !

These are indeed tough times. Never has it occurred so strongly that life can be this uncertain, and that plans for the ‘future’ could be as useless. Average life expectancy in the last 1.5years of the pandemic has surely plunged to mid-50s, if not lesser; especially in select countries. 

And now, it is getting REAL. As the pandemic started, it was numbers on the news - xx infection rate, yy death rate. It then transitioned to - friend’s friend’s parents are infected, distant uncle’s mom-in-law tested positive. And then - getting your own positive test, getting to know your best friends are isolated too. The pain is escalated to now hearing tragic losses - of dear ones - who are losing battles to this virus. It is affecting all our mental health. Not just in coping with the losses we hear about, but also in re-evaluating every decision we are making daily, questioning all future plans - of saving enough to buy a house, kicking you a** to repay that loan, waiting for an occasion to ping your loved ones and telling them how much they mean to you. It feels like the sand on the shore is washing away from under our feet and we are getting sucked into the ground. 

So do we need to course-correct? How do we support - with both short term and long term impact in mind?

In my home country, India - the healthcare system is breaking down. Numbers are being under-reported. Hospitals, ironically, are less safe than home isolation. People are dying due to inability to get basic medicines. The disease itself isn't as fatal as the lack of healthcare infrastructure. Black market and corruption are at an all-time high. Misinformation and fake news are widely circulated. Spread of the virus is rapid and under-tested. Vaccination rates are all over the place. Most, if not all, are questioning the decision-makers and people with power on their abilities, decisions and eventually, intent. 

After this rant, moving these thoughts towards actions and possible next steps.

I’ve been trying to narrow down on - what can one do, right now. For a long time, the thought that I, individually, wouldn't create any meaningful impact and probably, dont have the right access, kept me away. But the urge to support, help as many as possible, and at the same time, put efforts and resources towards high-impact activities is growing exponentially with each news I am reading. 

However, I am not sure what the right answer is. And, I dont know if its just me, or there are people like me who are also not sure how to exactly help. Here’s my list of options, along with some pros/cons and open questions.

A bunch of friends have been circulating trusted platforms to donate/ spread awareness for donation. I’ve tried my bit to contribute; jotting them here, for folks to do their part too:

• https://fundraisers.giveindia.org/fundraisers/i-breathe-for-india-virtual-fundraiser-to-help-india-battle-the-covid-crisis
• https://covid.giveindia.org/southasianstudents/
• https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/OnebillionLiterates
• https://covid19.ketto.org/
• https://www.impactguru.com/fundraiser/help-khalsa-aid

Do share if there are more resources or options to support.

Other small bits?

• Ping your friends, family members and tell them - you love them, you care for them and that you are just a ping/ call away. Ask for their wellbeing and see if you can be of any help to them
• Organise family game nights. My parents recently started playing cards and carom and I notice their mood (slightly) uplifted.
• Keep yourself fit, safe and relaxed/ happy. 
• Talk your mind out. I am clearly doing that right now.

Feel powerless, conflicted, almost useless - when I feel any or all of my initiatives may not move the needle. In the same vein, doing nothing makes me feel irresponsible and careless. The frustration that human lives are at dire risk, supposed people-in-power and people-with-resources are not doing their best and this pandemic doesn't seem to have an end soon, is building up; killing me some bit every day. 

But hey, there’s power in collective action. It's time for all of us to do our small bit - and drive impact with scale and massive reach. One for All and All for One. Now is the time. Action, whatever possible. And it feels comforting to see countless active fund-raisers, founders and employers stepping up to support their teams and families, many friends volunteering to support the person next to them. Like Mother Teresa said, if you cant feed a hundred people, then feed just one.

PS : It's all the more frustrating when you are away and are fortunate to have good care and a safer environment, and can't provide that to your loved ones.

PPS : All is okay, here and back home (??); but deeply saddened by so many losses and not sure how to grieve.