IMAGINE the things we enjoyed but failed to appreciate before the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting government- imposed quarantine changed our lives. Now many of us miss the ease of hailing a ride, the hassle-free shopping for groceries and other items, the fun of participating in group activities, and the freedom to do things without worrying about a curfew or catching the dreaded virus. Even employees and peddlers who used to complain about their jobs have been looking forward to go back to work. We begin to miss the normal things that we often took for granted.
Staying at home made us reflect even before Holy Week and reminded us of many things including the following:
Prioritize the essentials. The goods necessary for survival are on top of everybody’s list. This is the period when being choosy must be set aside. What matters is there are available goods, because there are days when store shelves are literally empty! Deliveries are delayed and panic buyers visited the store before you arrived.
Appreciate your loved ones while they can hear you. Diseases, accidents, and calamities claim people’s lives without any warning. There are times when strong and healthy individuals die earlier than their sickly relatives. Death, as they say, comes like a thief in the night. Let people know they matter to you while they are still alive.
Life is uncertain. Even high-paying jobs and stable businesses are not spared when there is a crisis. Viruses can attack ordinary people, celebrities, and politicians. Boast not. Nobody is invincible.
We need one another. The best doctors cannot solve the COVID-19 pandemic by themselves. We need wise, caring, and decisive leaders. We need scientists, media workers, law enforcers, architects, nurses, ambulance drivers, janitors, and garbage collectors. We need the support and cooperation of all sectors to take care of different aspects. There is no small or big task. Everything matters!
Let us brace ourselves for the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic brings to our lives. Continue praying for this pandemic to end. Let us support each other and cheer each other in this time of crisis. Share what you can spare. Keep the bayanihan spirit alive!
