This Too Shall Pass

It was an ordinary day like any other weekend and I was flipping through the TV channels to catch up with some interesting program. I was glued to the reporting of how people under the lockdown in some of the European countries were keeping the motivation up to fight with the dreadful COVID-19. Little did I realize that I will be in a similar environment after a couple of weeks.

Lockdown is an alien concept to people like me who are inching closer to the age benchmarked for “mid-life crisis” as per 21^st Century standards and bereft of any experience or exposure to such catastrophe. However, I am adapting to the new normal by making some small adjustments in thinking and consequential activities.

 I created a jogging path of 32 feet (approx. 9.75 meters) by shifting furniture inside the home. Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven (257) to and fro round of the bespoke jogging path allowed me to cover a distance of 5 km. Believe me, it was ecstatic and it was more joyous than completing a half marathon running on an iconic Banda Worli Sea link.

The joyous feeling evaporated quickly after hearing the news of exodus of workers on their feet determined to travel unimaginable distances. Life’s ruthlessness and ever-existing irony between choice and compulsion were evident once again as I was jogging in my air-conditioned apartment to shred extra calories while thousands were walking on their feet in the hot midday sun to preserve their existence.

As change is the only constant, the feeling of gloominess was instantly converted into a deep introspection by an apt question from my daughter, Aadhya. She, standing in the balcony, asked hurriedly- PAPA, why there are people on the road when there is a lockdown? I could feel the anxiousness, curiosity and concern in her question bit unusual for a Jr. Kg. student. However, the question raised a hope inside me that our children will be better prepared and more equipped emotionally to deal with such a catastrophic event should it ever happen again. Let me give another example to corroborate the preceding sentence. Aadhya and her 29 classmates participated in a Zoom meeting organized by her class teacher. To my utter dismay, the meeting/interaction was far less chaotic than my own meetings and it finished well within the stipulated time and they were happy at the end of it!

While I kept learning the real-life examples from People around me, I decided to consciously practice a trait of leadership – linking with the big picture. The practice started with mopping the floor every day. It might appear to be bizarre and complete nonsensical as to how such a mundane activity usually performed by housemaids for livelihood (with due respect) has any linkage to a big picture. Let me explain. I have a long-cherished dream of going on high altitude Himalayan treks. Such treks require some preparatory training to maintain a certain level of fitness level and cleaning the floor by mopping is an appropriate preparatory exercise for trekking. I hope my wife’s bewilderment caused by my overly enthusiastic interest in floor mopping would be put to rest after reading this story.

Challenging times can compel you to think out of the box and the utility of internet learning can come to your rescue in multiple ways. Though I am a graduate in chemistry, I never knew what a wonderful product can be created with Potato, Sugar, hot water and yeast. Well, I was not destined for it for the lack of a glass container with a lid.

Every threat is an opportunity. The threat of COVID-19 and lockdown has created an opportunity to spend some real quality time with family, to pursue a passion, to practice self-restraint, to be agile and to quickly adapt to the new environment.

Always remember this too shall pass…