Overcoming COVID-19 Blues
We are a family of six, three aged more than sixty-five years, one young couple and a small baby who is two years old. We live in a suburb of Bangalore. The community is very spacious with a lot of greenery and well-laid-out roads. The members of the community are economically well-placed, and there is a lot of harmony among the residents. An elected body of the residents takes care of the maintenance and other administrative needs.
When our Prime Minister announced the lockdown for four weeks in March, we did not know what was in store for us. All the shops, club-houses, malls, markets closed down. There was a restriction of movement of people as well. Within the first three days, we realised that we are in for more prolonged confinement in our houses and the entire life would come to a standstill. We also realised that we need to reinvent ourselves in our daily living. I want to share how we coped with the crisis for the benefit of the readers.
Healthy eating and fitness: My sister decided to cook all three meals. Meals were simple and straightforward. We did not order food from MTR or ABB or anywhere else. We all knew what we are eating and also what went into our meals. We had a proper distribution of fibre, carbs and proteins. Besides, we also got fresh fruits and vegetables. My brother in law made sure that we had the salad with every meal. We all ate together every day. As Gyms were closed, we used our body machines. We walked, or we used our bicycles to ride. Each one of us had a proper fitness regimen and schedule. We did not miss the Gym at all.
Focus on essentials: Medicines and provisions were on the top of the list. We took an inventory of daily provisions and replenished as required. We did not buy any extra non-essential stuff which would have added to our list and no additional expenses whatsoever. We used Paytm and bank transfers where needed. We exercised prudence in dispensing cash.
Adopting and enforcing hygiene: Cleanliness became the hallmark of our living. We kept a bucket of water and soap outside the house for washing before anyone entered the house. A bottle of sanitiser was at hand in case required. We washed our hands before we ate our food. Cleaning of vegetables became mandatory before they entered the house in addition to the cleaning of other packets with wet wipes. All of us wore masks when we stepped outside for walking or running. We maintained social-distancing norms strictly. Each one reminded the other on handwashing and usage of masks.
Helping: We used a consultative and decisive approach to all our daily challenges. As in any other family, there were differences of opinions on tiny to essential subjects. We shared all the household chores. While there were heated debates initially, the closures were always with consensus. We found near-optimal solutions to the issues. My brother in law updated the family on the status of COVID-19 throughout the day.
Family bonding: Our sense of adjustment came under the microscope. As you are aware, the requirements and expectations would vary in a household. The ‘empathy’ element was evident, and each one was willing to give up a little bit to accommodate the others’requirements. Occasionally, emotions floated up like cream while boiling the milk. As everyone had a role to play, there was also an opportunity to support each other. The spirit of ‘Omiyari’ was in the air. The open conversations helped in cementing the relationships, and mutual respect and admiration were at the peak.
Connecting with family and friends: We were able to communicate with friends and other family members to express our gratitude. Each one had to time to catch up with at least two individuals in the day. Connecting with old friends was a significant source of happiness for all of us.
Self-discovery: Some of had an opportunity to pursue our passions. My sister was doing her prayers daily, and I was able to catch up with some reading and writing. I found time to reflect on things to do with the new model of emerging life. My brother in law was catching up with Tamil movies of the yesteryears, and the cricket matches. I thought of the new connections required, new skills to be acquired to meet the changing needs.
Positive Energy: The two-year-old is the source of energy for all of us. She is always jumping up and down and fills our days with joy. She is neither aware of Corona nor the impact. She is only aware of the word,’ Corona Virus’ and she pronounces cutely as ‘Calona Villas’. She is brilliant, very attentive and adventurous. But she is very affectionate at the same time. Each of us learns a few lessons from her. Essential items included living in the present, responding with a smile, expressing oneself without hesitation and so on. The list is endless. Her syllabus varies from day to day, and each of us learnt to react to her requirements. We also got addicted to the new genre of nursery rhymes and stories. PeggyPig has been our favourite. We never missed watching Toby and Katie. Soorya Gayathri and Pai uncle were on our plates every day. Amazon delivery boy delivers a new toy every day. We learn how to play and await the new toy the next day.
The city is slowly waking up from lockdown. There are fewer restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles now. The invisible COVID 19 has brought in a lot of behavioural changes for the better in all of us.
Will we be able to sustain? It is anyone’s guess at the moment.
