What the virus is teaching us

By now the streets have gone totally peaceful, no more traffic that we used to complain about because schools have suspended their classes and most companies have started to implement the work from home scheme. But the city and the whole province are on community quarantine - which means our travel movements are limited. If I am to say, we must postpone our unnecessary travel for now and stay put.

One of my fellow alumni at the Ayala Young Leaders Congress who is an infectious disease specialist couldn’t stress the thought of social distancing and staying at home enough. Why? We are battling an enemy that we cannot see, an enemy that capable of topple down a population. The whole nation is now holding on together to “flatten the curve” in an attempt to bring the contagion down as the numbers continue to rise. While we are seeing the negative effect of the in our economy and daily lives, somehow there is beauty to it at the same time.

The virus has taught us all to slow down. Now that government is telling us to stay at home and distance ourselves from gatherings which include big events and social gatherings, it is now time for us to hit the brakes. Now is the moment to contemplate, what have we been doing with our lives lately? Is all the busy work worth it or do we see now the value of our families that we are now meeting on a daily basis at home? Plus now we are slowly bringing back the table - the dining table which used to be a source of get together with the family at a certain time. Let’s admit it, we have reached a point where we would rather buy fast food than cook and eat hurriedly than converse with one another. With the virus telling us to go back to the basics, we are slowly nurturing our family bonds that we have also slowly forgotten. Technology may speed us up but it has also deteriorated our relationship with one another.

We can also get started on those goals that we have never done because, again, we became so busy. That book that has been lying there on the shelf could now be opened and read to our heart’s content. That craft project that has been sitting down could now be continued, even that instrument that used to be your source of happiness could now be revisited. There are so many things to do, apart from binge watching your liked series. Then we will all realize the beauty of life and how slowing down actually helps us with one another and for our mental health, I wouldn’t trade these moments for anything in this world.

While others are enjoying time off, we shall offer a prayer to those at the front line who are risking themselves in this battle. May they also find strength in this crisis. Those also in self-quarantine will be experiencing difficult moments but we can all make this through. It is a long way to go, and a tough battle to overcome. Again, nothing beats the power of prayer. Keep safe.