Dear Lockdown…

The lockdown imposed due to Covid-19, affected our lives in unprecedented ways. And we all respond in different ways. There are ways to view this as a tragic event with grave personal impact, or view it positively. It all depends on one’s perspective.

We received a letter from a young client who is evidently looking at the silver lining in the dark cloud:

Dear Lockdown…

Since your needful arrival, a lot has happened in the country. You have had an impact on people’s bodily and emotional health, including mine. I have been reading books, talking to my friends and family, spending time with my brother and parents, cooking, eating, exercising, and realising the importance of my surroundings. Your arrival was hugely imperative to bring down the rising cases of COVID-19. I never thought that I would experience social distancing. However, now I am actually experiencing my environment and realizing the value of persons and places which I earlier took for granted. And I have become even more grateful for everything around me.

I am grateful to that friend who calls and gives me company and rants about technology, his life back at college, his dog, and most importantly, his newfound love for video games. Never understood a word he says about those games, but he is my go-to partner to hang with virtually (thanks to you). It is him who keeps me sane and never forgets to make me laugh out loud. I can’t wait to hug the bones out of him once you are done. You know Lockdown, friends are the closest to family outside the family, and I’m glad I have some of them who I can talk and have fun with during these times of distress.

And I have the most amazing inmates to share your effects with, and it feels like I’m in Bigg Boss TV program with Mummy, Papa, and my brother. I see Mummy watching all soaps on television, Papa praying in the evening and my brother playing video games and the conversation I keep having with each one of them makes me thankful for having loving people around me – the incessant chatter, even shouting when we lose our tempers. You have made me realise that family is a bunch of dysfunctional people who together fight, love, share, and coexist. I’m glad I can share these times with the best people possible.

Dear Lockdown, I know it will sound strange if I say it, but actually I will miss you when you are gone! Though normal will no longer be as normal as it used to be, the times we are thrown together are actually an unusual time and opportunity to discover who are our family and friends are, and who we have become. For that, dear Lockdown, I am thankful!

Your blessings extend beyond our household. The environment is cleaner, the air is fresher, traffic noise and pollution are minimized. People are forced to pause the relentless pursuit of business and reflect on the value and direction of their lives. We are discovering the gaps in our social fabric and will hopefully focus on fulfilling the neglected needs of some segments. Actually, it is a chance to mend socially and grow spiritually. Really, a 15-day Lockdown every year may be a good idea to keep us on track.

Dear Lockdown, I look at you in a positive light. That, in itself, is something new for me and one of the lessons you have taught me. Thanks, once again!

We can see a situation either negatively or see a positive in everything. It’s encouraging to see a young person see so much positivity despite being locked up at home! Naman sees this as an opportunity to bond with family, re-discover the value of friendships, expand his spirituality, breathe cleaner air, and expressed his gratitude to the lockdown, which is generally viewed negatively by most others. Let’s learn to live positively, even in the midst of imposed lack of movement.