covid19 – Esoteric

Do you ever wonder what retirement feels like? Do you ever just imagine what it would feel like to know that what was once your life is now a multitude of experiences that only exist through stories and memories? I know that at this point it feels as though mentioning COVID in every title, in every sentence, and in every story, has become rather taboo. But what can we do if that is the reality of the reality that we are living in? What can we do if COVID is why you may be able to take a glimpse into what your life could inevitably become?

We are currently in 2021 where our current living circumstances has shifted so drastically, and the only way to be able to handle it is by clinging onto a perspective that allows you to accept it. To be honest, there’s no way to view the situation that makes it any more ‘okay’, but there are ways to look at it that gives you insight into new things and new experiences. It’s obvious at this point the extent to which most, if not all, of us are being affected by the current Pandemic which has plagued the world. Most of us are so overwhelmed by the fact that we are literally burdened by the psychological repercussions of this. The main reason being, none of what is happening is within our control nor is it something that we planned ahead for. So what we are living in is basically a Matrix – an accelerated lifestyle into forced retirement.

When you think about it, this Pandemic is a precognition of what our life can inevitably become – an unforeseen radical shift to retirement. COVID has created a real-life shift which in its own way has given us a glimpse into what our future can look like through self-experienced journey. Just take a second and try to remember what life was like for you one year ago, two years ago, or rather every year before 2020. For most reading this, I suppose we can look at those years as your prime years, and for some you can look at it as more seasoned years. What I’m basically trying to tell you is that most of you reading this is a far way off from retirement, so this experience is all new to you and quite an interesting teaser of what is to come (possibly)!

Little do we consciously realize is the fact that COVID is an aging virus. And when I say aging, I do not mean a virus that accelerates cellular aging, hormonal aging, accumulated damage to our bodies, nor metabolic aging. The aging I am speaking about is related to our aging lifestyles and our structured realities. Think about it, at this point of our lives most of are supposed to be living a pre-dictated lifestyle in which the system has designed for what ever phase in life we are in. Whether it be in school – high school or college -, work, traveling, exploring the world, or being parents, we were all supposed to be living a life laid out to us that fits whatever phase we are in. Instead we’re doing neither because COVID has created its own system and its own rules.

What COVID has done to most of us is fast-tracked us to a retirement-like lifestyle. A lifestyle where people are forced out of their jobs, where athletes are forced to give up their passion for sports, where societies are forced into isolation and even where students are forced out of a growth experience. Luckily for us, retirement never looked this great! We still don’t look the part, we still don’t feel the part, and we’re definitely not ready to act the part. Our minds are still sharp, our bodies are still strong, and our curiosity is still peaked, but that doesn’t make the feeling of retirement any less real. Just think about it, think about how we’re living, think about how it feels, and think about what it could be like to get to this stage. What we need to remember is that COVID is a temporary lifestyle we are forced into and have no control of. The life we live outside of COVID, from the start until retirement is our life and everything that we can control. I urge you to use this experience as a lesson, use this experience as motivation. Make your days count because it is inevitable that you will have to give up your passions someday. Enjoy your working days because it’s inevitable that will have to give up your role to someone else someday. Keep learning as much as you can because it’s inevitable that at some point knowledge your mind will not be able to like before. Celebrate good times with friends, family and loved ones, for it’s inevitable that they won’t always be around. And when retirement comes around, plan it out how you see fit, how you can live with it.

It’s been a year since we’ve been living under such heavy stress. This stress, also a threat to our sanity and way of life, is single handedly contributed by the effects of this accelerated virus documented under the name of COVID-19. But let’s be clear, the question of the effects of this virus isn’t the same conversation as whether the virus is “real” or a conspiracy. For regardless of what it is, why it is, or who made it what it is, there are life threatening effects because of this questionable flu variant. There’s no denying that people are dying and that our way of life has been dramatically shifted, and these aspects alone are enough to make it all worrisome.

It’s scary imagining and reflecting on what life was just a year ago. It’s not scary because life was bad a year ago, it’s scary because of how fast this flu has become a dominant influence on how we live. About a year ago, early 2020, we were made aware of COVID-19 and it’s possible repercussions if it were to become a widespread virus. Of course these were all worst case scenario possibilities, nothing that we actually thought would happen. But even if we did believe there was a possibility, that wasn’t a possibility we chose to entertain. For who would want to imagine a life completely opposite of the life that were enjoying. We lived freely, expressively and intimately amongst each other. We enjoyed the flexibility of being able to travel both domestically and internationally. We openly ignored the idea of ‘space’, for a proper hello or goodbye was always complimented by a hug, shaking of hands, or 1,2, or 3 kisses. We enjoyed a life that presented us with endless possibilities of exercising both the mind and the body through recreational, competitive and professional activities. WE WERE LIVING!

Some may argue and say that although COVID-19 has impacted our social lives, social media was already on the verge of doing so. While I do understand that argument, I strongly believe that there’s a significant impact when a person is left with no choice. Although social media has indeed been affecting our social lives, it is so because these are choices that we as people have made (though conscious or unconscious). But COVID-19 has placed us in a situation that we have no control of, we have no say, we have no freedom nor any flexibility, and that’s where the frustrations begins.

Fast forward to a year later, here we are still living under threat. A threat to our lives, both physical and mental. Again, whether you believe in COVID-19 or not, there’s no denying that people are dying, people are suffering, and our way of life has been affected. But what’s really worrisome to me is that many of us focus on the tragedy of the now, and neglect those of tomorrow. There have been countless souls that lost their lives (physical) due to COVID-19 up until now. The tragedy of death has directed our focus solely on the physical and distracted us from also seeing the urgency of all the victims who have and are losing their lives through the mental aspect. For death isn’t the only way we as humans can lose our lives.

It confuses me to realize, that we live in a world that acknowledges the effects of caging away animals for any extended period, but does not acknowledge the effects on us as people. Yes, it is necessary for protocols to be in place, but how are we really saving people if we are only saving the physical and neglecting the mental?
Children are suffering, teens are suffering, parents, adults, professionals, we all are in our way. It’s tough to see that kids aren’t able to free themselves up to the world, engage and explore. Worrisome to know that teenagers, especially those going through puberty, aren’t able to find means of constructive outputs nor are they able to socialize or create experiences and bonds. Frustrating to accept that adults aren’t able to enjoy the pleasures of a relief or an output that allows them destress from a confined work day. Heartbreaking to know that people living abroad aren’t able to meet new people, aren’t able to socialize, are all alone with no answers, only more questions.

Families aren’t able to live traditionally, children aren’t able to touch their parents or grandparents, birthdays and holidays become lonely gatherings. Depression, frustration, loneliness, stress… tragedies such as funerals or emergencies are experienced through a text or over a camera. This is no regular life, this is far from a life…

We are living in a world that we do not recognize. But if we do not look out for each other, if we do not create measures or a support system that focuses on the mental well-being of our people, even if we get back the world we once knew, how many people will we not be able to recognize?

Call a friend, call your family, check in on them, make sure they are okay. Reach out to someone if you need someone to speak to. Stop telling yourself that you’re okay when you’re not. None of us are, and the only way that we can survive this is together!!!

Tag: covid19

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My Words