Just don’t breathe and some hopeful thinking
Just don’t breathe. Now-a-days whenever anyone sets out of the house, I give them a list. It is not a shopping list but a list of instructions. They range from – ‘don’t shake hands with anyone to ‘JUST DON’T BREATHE. Am I panicking? With most of the nearby countries on lockdown, I might be a tad worried but holding on. I have questions – Is it going to work? Or we follow what everybody else is doing. Are the containment measures which were implemented in China going to work for Italy? If yes, then why can’t we follow? But then a thought flicks by – ‘what if they are not? Here in the UK, we usually keep a distance from people. We don’t even smile sometimes. ‘Social distancing’ was one thing I wasn’t worried about. Just like most of you, I am searching for genuine answers. In the world of fake news, WhatsApp forwards, Facebook, Twitter, losing your sanity is very much possible. However, to keep things light in the midst of all the chaos, I’m trying my hands on some hopeful thinking.
Breathe and indulge yourself in some hopeful thinking:
The virus by mistake got into a dead body and it couldn’t get out. It died.
The virus got lost in the transit.
It was looking for it’s long lost brother. It found it’s twin – it’s soul mate and is no longer evil.
One morning I wake up and everything was back to normal.
There are toilet rolls back on the shelf.
People are not killing each other for the last piece of paper product.
People are not roaming around suspicious of ‘who has it’?
We are sneezing and nobody has a doubt of some ulterior motive. And people are actually saying, ‘Bless you!’
We are not going red, holding on to our coughs. “Otherwise people will think we have it”.
Brexit is the only thing to talk about.
And some more
Gossip about.
Scolding our children for watching too much TV.
Going out for coffee.
Fresh air.
Walks.
Holding hands.
Holidays.
Breathe.
Not ‘JUST DON’T BREATHE’.
In the meantime
In the meantime, be generous in your spirit but stingy in your movements. Don’t go out if it’s not absolutely necessary.
Be kind and shop sensibly. Because you can’t live alone. Remember that. Leave some products for others when you shop. You won’t be able to finish the perishable ones that quickly anyways.
Smile as it makes someone’s day. More so since you are social distancing.
Call people. Talk and let your heart out. There is fear and uncertainty all over, let it out.
Love people and Use things sensibly. Because you don’t need it all.
I know that with kids at home, it’s going to be a task and my home will be chaotic with the three of them fighting for the remote. Be thankful, that it’s only the remote they are fighting for. Because, for some people it’s even worse. Things are tough, you have to be tougher and is the need of the hour. Do your bit and you could be the one breaking the chain. Be safe. This shall pass.
Much love
Suranjita
[…] is my paranoia and hysteria doing the talk. You can still breathe contrary to what I said before. I think it’s time we have a perspective and distil fear and […]