ZOE MTHIYANE
“The COVID-19 outbreak has really scared the living daylights out of us. Knowing that we are doing our part by keeping clean, adhering to the social distancing rule, exercising more, continuing to eat healthily and taking all of the vitamins keep me and my family, somewhat, sane. As a family, we’ve had to make significant lifestyle changes, but as Anaïs Nin says: ‘Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage’. It takes courage to make significant changes in our lives, right? And, it also takes courage to have blind faith and trust that, in the end, everything will be okay. I’ve personally been battling the fear of the unknown. At this point, we don’t know if the lockdown will be extended further to contain the spread of the disease. Not being in control, and not knowing what’s going to happen next, is very scary. I’ve become more prayerful because with control out of the way, prayer is honestly all we have left and what we can turn to. I’m also learning to let go because who’s to say that control was ours to have in the first place.
“It’s terrifying that something so micro — that cannot be seen with the naked eye — can dictate to the world, put a pause to our daily routines and separate us from family, friends and one another. The pandemic has highlighted the need to work hard to curb the overcrowding in some of our communities. Additionally, most South Africans rely on public transportation to move around, and these factors make it non-negotiable that we suspend some of our right-hand freedom and cooperate with the government’s efforts. As a professional artist, working in an industry that hasn’t fully matured, the lockdown comes with financial uncertainty. How I wish I could partake in volunteering opportunities! But, the lockdown comes with strict regulations, rendering this impossible. While staying at home may seem like an arduous task, as it affects the incomes of many breadwinners, we have to abide by it. I advise everyone to use this time to introspect on personal relationships, friendships, family, acquaintances as well as our mental and emotional well-being. Let’s also reflect on the content we consume — and how that has affected the choices we make today, and how those will affect our futures.