Our generation is witnessing the most dreaded of things. A pandemic. And we’re the bunch who are always on the move. We’re waiting to shop for the latest trends, we’re running to check out the new cafe in town, we’re hustling to make sure we get to take that trip we planned for. Even evolution suggests that we’re not made to be confined within four walls. But the world as we know it has come to standstill, whether we like it or not. And I cannot help but point out what a commendable job we’re doing.
We’re making sure we continue to hustle, we’re making sure we reach out to our friends and family a lot more (now that we have the time to do so), we’ve turned parents and ensuring our parents stay at home and understand the dearth of our situation (I know I have made one too many calls to my mother asking her to STAY PUT), we’re also recognizing the privileges we’ve always had and reaching out to help those who are having a difficult time.
And yes, we’re making sure we get the most out of this time by being super productive by learning a new skill or two. But we’re also mindful enough to know that it’s important for us to call out that it is okay to do none of that and just get through the day, during these hard times.
I, for one, am in the process of learning to get used to what we now call “the new normal”. It has been anything but easy to do this. And letting myself consume my endless social media feed about how people have been dedicating their extra time to become hyper woke about things, put more effort into their physical and mental fitness, become culinary experts and master their art-form of choice has not helped much.
The endless need to ensure I make the most of this time has taken a toll on me. It has made me blind to all that I had worked for, reflect on it and gather my learning from it. It has given me many a sleepless nights and made me uncomfortable. No, I’m not beyond functioning. I still wake up, exercise, schedule, cook, work, check up on my friends, watch TV shows, read, all that.
I am normal. But not the new normal.
As much as I know that it is imperative that we take these measures, and as much as I understand what a privilege it is to be able to say “I am functioning”, I cannot wait for all of this to be over.
If there is something I have learnt during this time, it is that I know now to value the outdoors so much more.
Tejaswini Halthore 