Photographer: Raunaq Sikka; Model: @vogue.on.wings
When COVID-19 took over our world, I was actually supposed to be on my honeymoon. I remember when my husband and I jokingly spoke about not making it to our romantic escapade, our first real break in years, when the first cases popped up in China. By March, it wasn’t so funny anymore. Needless to say, we never made it to Europe.
“Let’s go when things get better,” is what we told ourselves back then. This was when cases in India were just a couple of thousands. Writing about it now reminds me of our naïveté — our premonitory joke came full circle after all.
Over a year of living through this global pandemic and things still appear to be eerily similar. We have all lost and gained from this year and still continue to do so. At this point, it’s clear that there is no returning to what we were before Corona and while I hate using this phrase, the new normal, is what each of us seem to be navigating through.
If we ever doubted that having a home, the internet, labor, access to food and the role of health services to be essential commodities, we’ve had our wake up call by now, and just trying to survive is the first priority on most of our minds.
But with all the effects Sir Covid had on individual lives, we think it’s important to highlight that there is a certain comfort in being in this whirlwind, together. For the first time, in most of our lifetimes, time really seemed to stand still, and we’ve been forced to take a step back and reflect on our routines, choices and needs. In a way, the pandemic really humbled us all.
But don’t just take our word for it.
We asked the community, “What did COVID-19 teach you?”
Here’s a random list of the honest, heartbreaking, relatable, truly profound and some hilarious responses we received from you (Notice the similarities!) –
“Covid taught me to have empathy towards everyone. It treated you alike.”
“I need to take better care of my health, finances and emotions.”
“I need to find more activities that I love.”
“We don’t need much. We can manage with few things.”
“Take a pause! No hell breaks loose if you take the time to relax and breathe.”
“My health matters over everything else but my family.”
“To make time for creative endeavors like writing. Schedule was always jam packed with work and socializing prior to Covid–I forgot that writing/film is what fulfills me most.”
“Don’t take anything for granted and avoid getting too attached to humans.”
“Pay more attention to yourself and your closest ones. Make time for yourself even on your busiest days because it could literally change your perspective towards yourself, towards a bad day or a bad mood.”
“Recognize your privilege when needed and do the best you can to help others and justify that privilege. The pandemic hit the less privileged the most, and most systems often fail them, so it’s important to not turn a blind eye and contribute.”
“Get vaccinated.”
“That everything I need is already with and within me.”
“Competition only exists in your mind. We’re all in a race with ourselves, no one else.”
“Never plan the future.”
“Don’t take things for granted, be it your freedom, your health and even the air you breathe.”
“Save money.”
“Humans love being told what to do and are pretty much headless chickens without direction.”
“Value of essentials.”
“Patience.”
“Patience. Loads of patience.”
“People are a lot stupider than I previously gave them credit for.”
“Being alone can be an extremely profound experience.”
“Humans don’t matter! We’re merely tiny shards of nothing in this beautiful universe.”
“To maintain physical distance.”
“Social distancing is important whether Covid is around or not because people can be toxic to you through any phase.”
“To adopt and adapt.”
“That I can achieve even when days are grim.”
“Covid taught me that life is too short…make the most of it. Step out of your comfort zone.”
“I can survive being alone but miss simple things like going out to eat with friends.”
“That I don’t have any friends within walking distance .”
“To get attached emotionally to my family.”
“The difference between wants and needs. The importance of family.”
“Importance of family time, finding joy in small things.”
“Importance of family time.”
“Hold onto that close circle of loved ones and invest your time on them.”
“Invest in really good health insurance.”
“That I need to open up a hospital or have an online business.”
“To have strong financial backing is so important. Also,good health.”
“That I’m truly alone.”
“Dance…. travel when you can.”
“We don’t need unnecessarily expensive things.”
“Nothing is permanent. Live in the moment, make the most of today.”
“To value what you have. Be kind to everyone and try to help others.”
“That we are all equal.”
“Buy more vibrators.”
