‘Every time you feel low, just switch on the sunshine’

In the last two years with a life threatening disease (cancer), one thing I’ve realised is that nothing goes as planned. I’ve learnt not to take anything for granted, and be grateful. This has helped me in dealing with the pandemic also,” says Sonali Bendre Behl, who believes that the best way to battle panic is to look for a silver lining.

She shares, “Just understanding that it could have been so much worse makes you go through the day a little better. The biggest lesson of all is to take it one day at a time. Every time you feel low, just switch on the sunshine.”

Behl, 45, asserts that the pandemic has led to an increase in mental illness and domestic violence cases. “This lockdown is unprecedented, and is going to cause a lot of issues. Mental health is a huge topic. Domestic violence is also a part of it. But when I feel low, the thing that pulls me out, and which pulled me out during my treatment also, is to watch and read joyful and hopeful things,” she says.

The actor, who started her book club a while ago, hopes that it will help her battle the health crisis. “I started my book club when I joined social media, and I realised that it was an amazing medium that could be used in a positive way. The book for last month was Exhalation by Ted Chiang. During the pandemic, the idea was to choose a book which was uplifting,” she explains.

She’s also keeping herself busy with an NGO which works with underprivileged children suffering from cancer. “In this pandemic, they are looking for a lot of help as there are children going through cancer and healthcare workers cannot take leaves. Doing something for children gives me hope and the feeling that I’m doing something for the future,” Behl signs off.

When I feel low, the thing that pulls me out is to watch and read joyful, hopeful things. SONALI BENDRE BEHL ACTOR

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