If COVID-19 Didn't Happen

"We will remember 2020 as a year of disease and death, and lockdowns that separated friends and relatives, and businesses from customers, causing depressions of both the economic and clinical sort" - The Spectator 

Well, 2020 is said to be the worst year of our generation and we all share that sentiment to some extent. For me, 2020 was one of the best years. No, I didn't get married 😑 but it was the year when I felt accomplished the most. It was the best time to help others, the best time to be a virtual support system to anyone, and the best time to be alive. 

I lost count how many times I felt like giving up but I also lost count how many times I got back and tried again. If COVID didn't happen, I would never know the extent of my capacity. My humility and patience. 

I did things that I never imagined doing in my 11 years of service. There were people rooting for me but also people who were so good in discouragements and criticisms. And that, my friend, pushed me to achieve everything that I never thought of achieving ever in my career life. 

If COVID didn't happen, I will never meet and get to know the amazing people who changed my life forever. Those people who helped me to cope and survive. I know it's not over yet but imagine being away from your family during the 1st wave of the pandemic? When everyone thought that it will be over in weeks. When getting a phone call from home, at midnight, made you the most anxious and paranoid person in the world. When having a simple sore throat gave you the worst scenarios playing in your head. Damn.

I was given the privilege to go home for the holidays. Yes, it was a privilege.  I know people who can actually leave for some time-off but it will not be a roundtrip ticket anymore. I didn't manage to meet everyone but those 45 days of being there were the shortest 45 days of my life. Time flies when you are having fun. The situation might have barred us from a physical bonding but those times should never be taken for granted.

If COVID has taught me anything, I learned that we will only realize how irreplaceable our moments are, when we are forced to live distant with so much uncertainty. I can't believe that we will be in the situation where we don't know what's normal anymore. When we need to acknowledge that not everything is about me (or you) because other people are struggling too - even worse. 

Millions didn't make it last year but more people did. If COVID didn't happen, we will never understand what survival means. That we can actually survive with the new normal. 

It could be depressing as we are wired to connect and to be social. We are not done so let's continue to hope. 

"Hope is a good thing, may be the best of the things. And good thing never dies." - Shawshank Redemption