The Manila Times

Nuggets of wisdom out of the Covid- 19 pandemic

- BY HAZELYN LUCAS

GOVERNMENT teachers like us and everyone else are greatly affected by the coronaviru­s pandemic. People’s lives across the world are at standstill while striving to face the challenges of the future.

The economic ambiguity, anxiety about the future and concern for the safety of loved ones are just among those affecting people, including mentors. Yet, we work to learn through online and get profession­al developmen­t help and technologi­cal know-how.

We ought to succeed even during this pandemic and embrace the new normal with the appropriat­e technologi­es and modalities, as well as support systems.

Mentors like me, though, have been realizing vital thoughts worth sharing due to this health crisis.

Life is short. Let us live our life to the fullest. Let us do the things that make us completely happy. Let us not live life with regrets and especially not with lot of what ifs.

Health is wealth. Our health is the most important asset we have, not our money in the bank, neither our properties. These can easily be spent or sold if our health is at stake. We have all the time to bring back the strength we once possessed and our youthfulne­ss both inside and out.

Everyone is made equal. Rich or poor, young or old, everyone can be affected. We all came from dust and to dust we shall return. Everybody will be six feet below the ground in his own destined time.

No place like home. We have been blessed with a great place to reflect and meditate, and it is not in the hospital or in any quarantine area. It is the place where we find true peace, unconditio­nal love and with the best blessing from above, at home with our family.

Value essential things. This crisis has taught us to prioritize needs over wants. Learning to consider the things where to spend money is very important at a time like this. We just need to realize that sometimes the things we need to survive are simple, and essential things can also be free.

Everybody deserves rest. We are given time not to worry over things that do not really matter. We just need to take a break, open our eyes, enjoy life and make the best out of it.

Giving is caring. Be the answer to others’ prayers; be a channel of blessings to everyone. Grab the opportunit­y to help others. Always bear in mind that it is better to give than to receive. We give because we are blessed, and we are blessed because of what

God has given to us and because of this, we too, can be the answer to our own prayers.

Time is gold. Do the things that really matter. Do not waste time; be productive. Take the time to show love and forgive, and to make a difference so we can be the best version of ourselves.

Appreciate life. Not everything has been given life and not everything that has life is human. Some living things are considered trivial, but it doesn’t give us excuse to treat them differentl­y. How do you want to be treated if you were a plant or a bird? Be a nature lover; make this world a better place in which to live.

God is in control. Surrender everything to the Supreme Being, the Creator of all things. We just need to trust God for His plans and His ways. We need to let go of the things that are beyond our control. Trusting Him in times like this gives us assurance that everything will be okay through His own ways according to His plan in His own time.

These could be nuggets of wisdom that I will also share to my fellow teachers, students, friends and relatives in this “new normal” time.

The author is head teacher 3 at the Cam una tan Elementary School, City of I lag an Schools Division in Isabel a Province

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