Unlocking the Lockdown Within

Thanks to my school friend Sumit Sahani for sharing this wonderful message. It’s one of the few inspiring notes that can make us THINK and ACT positively when we are flooded with so much negative news related to Global COVID19 Pandemic.The world is in the midst of (almost indefinite) Lockdown and we do not know when life will be back to normal. 

While we all are under this Lockdown, we have two options

1. We kept mulling what is going to happen (which we anyways never know) and force ourselves into depression.
2. We take it as an opportunity and try to make the best out of it with whatever resources we have.

It’s like whether we want to see the glass as half empty or half full.

There is no doubt we all are going through unprecedented challenging times. However, we must also have confidence in human potential that we will come out of it sooner or later. And whenever we are going to come out, we would reflect on these days and might regret later why we didn’t go for the latter.

1. The Lockdown has affected billions across the world financially, socially, emotionally and in many other ways we can’t even imagine. At the same time, it has given us an opportunity to SAVE ourselves and also others by NOT stepping out. (When Health Workers have put their everything at Risk, this is the minimum we could do).
2. On the positive side the Lockdown has given us an opportunity to be with our families specially kids.
3. Wherever possible, the Lockdown has given us an option to Work from Home and contribute to the society, nation and World directly or indirectly.
4. Learning Life skills! When many of us do not have maids now (at least in India) we can use this window to share the household chores with our partner, spouse or parents. These activities not only help us in keeping our mind off from all the negative stuff happening around but allowing us to learn new skills in Cooking, doing dishes, cleaning and much more.
5. Yes, we are not able to have morning walks, gym etc. but we have the choice to do the same at our homes. No one is stopping us to wake up early, do Yoga, meditation or spend peaceful time in solitude, hear birds chirping, watch clear and beautiful sky ( thanks to minimal pollution and Traffic noise), sun rising and start the day at great note.
6. The Lockdown has thrusted “Social distancing” on us but we just need a phone or video call to stay connected emotionally with our friends or family members the world over. There are so many stories of People across world coming together over Zoom video chats.
7. Gardening. How about spending some more time with the plants we have. Why not repotting?
8. Volunteering could be another fulfilling activity. We could volunteer to help senior citizens or lower income individuals, or families arrange for the essential items during this time of crisis.
9. Thanks to Internet, we have wonderful opportunity to continue to Re-Skill or Up-skill while we are at home. There are so many online options available. We could read books we bought ages back thinking we would read them some day. Now the time has come. Or we can (learn to) write blogs as Yours truly is doing right now (fourth since March).

The list is endless.... There could be so much more to do. We do not have to do All of The Above. We could pick one or more of such activities to help ourselves utilize this time. Were we not postponing and yearning since long to do all this? So, what is stopping us when we are given this once in a lifetime opportunity . And if we are already doing some or all of the above stuff, why don’t we start encouraging others and help them overcome the Lockdown blues!

Health is Wealth. If we are well, we can again rebound to our feet. Let’s be positive. This too shall pass, and we will overcome very soon. Let’s hope we will have great story to share with new generation that how we together came out as Winners :-)

Wish you All well. StayHome, StaySafe, StayUnited. BeThankful, BeHappy.

Disclaimer: The above thoughts are not related to my current role or Organisation.