In a few weeks (12 weeks to be precise) we will see the end of this year. This year 2020 has left such a huge impact on each and every person on this planet. This year has taught us so much, we know ourselves a little more, we are understanding our relationships a lot more now, we are valuing our loved ones in a whole different way. This year has only taught us, it has given us more than it has taken from us. Again it depends on whether someone lost a loved one to the pandemic, in that case the view on this year could be very different. 

Let us take an overview of how this year has impacted our relationships.

We couldn’t meet our friends and our loved ones. We couldn’t go out with them. We were in a forced state of physical distancing. Did this stop us from keeping in touch with them? NO. Absolutely NO.

We found ways to stay in touch. We messaged, we called, we saw each other via video calling. Technology has been a huge blessing to us during this pandemic. We organized birthday parties for our kids, our family members on zoom and skype. We got all our loved ones into our home on a single screen with the help of technology. We cut cake, we wished, we sang the birthday song, we played party games to enjoy and celebrate the day. Was it just like before where we were physically with one another? No, it was not the same. But it was something…we were able to see one another, speak to one another, be there for one another. 

There has also been a surge of online classes. Yoga, zoomba, pilates, cooking, baking, animation, graphics, coding, music, art, crafting; you name it and it was available. People enrolled for these classes to make use of the time on hand. We were also doing all our house chores, it was a great exercise in learning to be neat and tidy plus being house proud. Don’t you feel mighty proud of your skills when your home looks spick and span after you’ve put in so much time and effort cleaning and tidying it up! I sure am.

We also learnt a very crucial life skill during these times, we learnt to be self reliant and self sufficient. If we felt like eating paav bhaji, and we couldn’t go out to buy the paav. What did we do? We baked them! We learnt how to look for the recipe, we gathered up the ingredients and baked our very own paavs! We may undermine this, but look at all the important skills we used or learnt while doing this. 

We learnt another important skill, the skill to say no to ourselves and our loved ones. These were times that taught us that if we have limited choice when it came to vegetables or fruits. We learnt not to be fussy, we learnt to make do with what we had. We learnt to wait. We learnt that it was ok to be denied something. Not only did we learn this, we passed on this lesson to our children also. 

Many of us learnt how to order groceries online. So many senior citizens also picked up these skills so effortlessly. It is really commendable how we all have risen up and bettered ourselves in these testing times. 

We have learnt empathy. When we saw stories of doctors, nurses, hospital staff, policemen and policewomen doing their duties tirelessly, we felt for them. Tell me, before 2020, did you even think about a policeman doing his duty or a nurse rushing about her duty in the clinic? No we didn’t. We took these people for granted. Now when we have seen how they are doing their duties with a huge sense of responsibility and care, we are appreciative of their efforts and we greet them with a smile (in the least). 

When things were tough, we did make an effort to pay our house helpers, drivers, cooks, guards. We gave them food, groceries, medications and all possible help. This was such a beautiful deed that got done through us. I believe in doing good to everyone around, and I believe the universal law of – what goes around, comes around. 

There is so much more we have done, learnt to do, opened our heart for someone. We helped senior citizens living alone, we helped with offering to fetch their groceries or just checking in on them regularly. In these times, it was a blessing to anybody when someone spoke two kind words. They enriched us, assured us and filled us with hope. 

There were so many singers who took to social media to put up mini concerts for us, their fans and viewers. Why did they need to do that? They did it, because music spreads positivity, we feel good when we hear our favourite singers, our favourite songs. We forget our own pain and submerge into the melodious tunes, at times humming or singing along. 

We saw a world where everyone started caring. Maybe we were caring before too, but it is more evident and visible now. This is heartening and somewhere the trust and belief in humanity and humans without borders becomes a reality. 

Take a moment to thank the Almighty that you are experiencing this wave of goodness and kindness. Also thank Him that you are getting to play your small part in this massive wave of positivity and love infused human emotions that make us care, make us give and be there for one and all. This pandemic has taught us that it does not differentiate between rich and poor, between educated & uneducated, between man & woman, between any nationality, colour or religion. This has unified us because it does not see any difference in one human from another. It treats everyone equally. Perhaps we all needed a lesson in unity, humanity and for realising what really matters to us. 

Take a moment to see what you have learnt, what we have gained and be grateful about it.