The pandemic and my takeaways

Having made peace with the pandemic, we accept that lives must go on. We can do our best to keep safe, take precautions and be responsible.

‘So, what’s your takeaway from this pandemic?” This question has been a recurring feature throughout this coronavirus-afflicted period and my answer has varied with each query depending on the timeline. I have stumbled upon very distinct phases during this period. Just as the Kubler Ross Model says, there are five stages we go through during a tragedy.

First came the stage of “denial”. At the time the pandemic rose its head in Wuhan, I refused to believe that it could sweep across continents. My son’s board exams were under way in the month of March and the parent’s WhatsApp groups expressed ominous fears about the exam getting cancelled or postponed.

Each day was a gruelling experience as I kept my fingers crossed that we should sail through the last exam without any hindrance. Gradually the month of March came to an end and we saw the virus spread akin to a zombie invasion. Our plans of travelling to India were wiped off just like that. My takeaway from this phase was life is never full proof.

Next followed the phase of “anger”. Flames of resentment were ignited within, a tiny virus built boundaries between us and our loved ones living in other countries.

My brother burnt with fever, alone in an isolated room in UK, as the virus made its way into his being. We could merely look on and comfort him with tender words. My takeaway at this point was the best thing to do is to live in proximity to the people we love.

The stage of “bargaining” came on … we quarantined ourselves as best we could. I prepared to negotiate with the situation. A group of students, of Presidency College in Kolkata began community kitchens, the least I could do was to help them out and give back a meagre little at least to the world. My takeaway at this stage was we can always strike a bargain with our situation at hand and try to make the best of it instead of cribbing and sulking over the same.

Take it in your stride

A pall of “depression” set in. We wondered if this condition would continue forever. Then came the cyclone called Amphan, that hit my home state in India. Shattered and bleeding, I saw my city recuperate gradually, each day. I saw spirits of “resilience” and “generosity” sweep across the community. Here, my ‘takeaways’ were, no matter what life serves you one has to take it in one’s stride and move on, sturdier than ever.

Now I guess, I am in the last phase … the point of ‘acceptance’. Having made peace with the pandemic, with restrictions being relaxed, we accept that lives must go on. We can do our best to keep safe, take precautions and be responsible. If the ‘spiky’ fellow finds its way into me, I will survive and gain immunity. A vaccination will soon dawn upon us. The world will be a better place for sure.

So, the model says that he who jumps from the first stage to the last is wise. However, if you remain stuck in any one of the phases in between you need to rewire and move on.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life, croons John Denver in my mind, so let’s not allow “Spiky” to ruin it!