MCO THE BEST TIME TO REFLECT ON LIFE
Stop moaning and use this period to seek and extend forgiveness
COVID-19 has changed the world. It continues to do so. How much has it changed you, your family, your lifestyle?
World businesses have changed, and some may not even recover from the internal and external fluctuations.
Political changes may take place, too, as demand for solutions to healthcare and daily survival needs grow. I’m sure you are following closely the debate in big countries like the (once mighty) United States of America, Spain and Italy.
With the Movement Control Order (MCO), physical movements have been greatly reduced. For the better wellbeing, of course.
So how many of us put this selfquarantine to good use? Are we still locked in the daily battle of deciding what to eat, when to go to the supermarket and argue about being bored at home?
These arguments are inevitable. It’s how you deal with them that can strengthen your family or lead to bigger arguments. For those celebrating Ramadan, isn’t this the best time to reflect on your physical, social, mental and spiritual wellbeing?
I should think so! Indeed, this is the best period for personal and family reflections. Also for reconciliation of past misdeeds (if any), of seeking and extending forgiveness, regardless of whether you are celebrating Ramadan or not.
May I suggest that you put up your own SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis chart up on the board. Study it well. It is good to get other family members to do theirs too.
This is not a family chart of financial profit and loss. This is an analysis of a family’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as its togetherness and willingness to share and do the right thing.
There could never be another opportunity where whole families are cooped up together for an extended period of time.
Maybe this is a good time to listen to your children’s stories. Hear their hopes, dreams and fears.
Maybe it’s time for the elders to share some family secrets from the old days. There must be tales worth telling and re-telling. The MCO can certainly help strengthen family bonds.
We always take our families for granted. We assume that we know what our family’s needs and wants are. Quite often, they are far from our assumptions.
An old colleague, MKS, has 20 people in his house. They include his children, grandchildren and a couple of cousins. It’s a big family party every day, especially during this Ramadan.
So stop moaning and groaning about the MCO. Use it to reflect on family values, targets, plan careers and bond tightly. You may never get another chance.