THE END OF 2020

 

Hallo good people!

We finally made it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes! We have finally managed to finish the year! I think we all have “wrestled” in one way or the other and can breathe a sigh of relief. We are ending just fine. Not unscathed but just fine. And for that, we each deserve a pat on the back.

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Let us start at the beginning, for most of us (except for those that were in Wuhan - China to be exact) were the least bit bothered about the situation. A little concerned, Yes! Because people were dying from “some flu” but not entirely worried. We joyously and obliviously counted down the seconds to the end of 2019 and the beginning of a seemingly ordinary year, 2020. And at the stroke of midnight, we were elated! Another year down. All our new year resolutions and plans laid out. Little did any of us know what would befall us. By “us,” I mean the whole of humanity.

2020 was No usual year. We had a pandemic people!!! A P.A.N.D.E.M.I.C! The whole world! Allow me speak for my country (not that I need your permission anyway.) Putting the festivities of the season behind us in January and February we got back to our normal schedules, [enjoyed my sisters’ birthday] blissfully enjoyed Valentine’s day (not that this is in any way relevant) all fueled up for the new year, COVID-19 still looked like it was far away, on TV perhaps. People were getting sick and some dying, in Asia, Europe and America but not here - YET. For lack of a better word, this whole thing slowly creeped up on us and within less than 14 days in March, the airport and boarders were closed and the whole country was put under LOCKDOWN!

Now this seemed glorious for some. For those that needed a break from their daily monotonous routines, from work, those that needed more time for/with family, for the introverts or even the lazy ones that wanted to stay home all day and go nowhere. To the workaholics, business people, those paid hourly, those that love to party, to “go hang….” It was torture. But overall “small small “ lockdown was ok. And then the 14 days turned into a month. And the one month turned to 2 months. At this time, nothing was ok. We were all tired. Ta-ya-ad!!! I am sure each one of us felt at least one of these: we were hungry, broke, or with money but no way of really spending it, massively bored, annoyed, we missed our friends and family, we were exhausted from seeing the same old faces, from being cooped up together for days or lonely from staying all alone for long. The excitement had passed. We had played all the family games, we read the books we had planned to read, we experimented with food, we worked out, we played soccer, we took long walks, checked our socials till it became monotonous and annoying, (I at some point was coerced into making a Tiktok video! Smh 😒😒) listened to all our music, watched random YouTube videos, watched our president address the nation on COVID -19 matters (several times for long hours while he noisily sipped his porridge) watched our neighbors from our balconies (who in turn watched us back), we slept, woke up and slept again only to wake up and we were still in Lockdown. People postponed their events, travel, weddings etc. and plans were literally put on hold. There were salary cuts for some, others lost their jobs. All the while, more people were testing positive for COVID -19 and the number of deaths kept  increasing. It became hard. Real Hard.

Well the lockdown was lifted in phases of course. We had standard operating procedures (which my countrymen are evidently still struggling with 😟😟😟) Life had to get back to “normal.” News flash! it has not. Not by a long shot. But somehow, if you are reading this, you clearly are still breathing. Which is a good thing.

Looking at how things have turned out – so far, I can comfortably say that it is only by the Grace of God that we are here. If there is anything that I have learnt, that is firmly engraved on my brain now, it is the fact that none of us is in Control of the next minute or second of our lives. Absolutely no one. A lot could happen in the twinkling of an eye (and yes I just used a cheesy idiom) And we would not have any Authority over it. So while we still can breathe, Own Every Second. Make it count. Smile whenever you can, tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, travel near and far while you still have the luxury, Be Kind, eat at that restaurant that you’ve always wanted to go to, ask that person out, put in that application (even when you only have half of the qualifications), be grateful, apologize, mend those relationships, Be You, Be Authentic and go see that aunt that you have not seen in 10 years. (she could leave you her house 😂😉)

Point is, be daring. I am not saying be without fear, or act without caution. But simply rack up all that apprehension, the reluctance, the anxiety, and fear to fail, bundle it up, carry it with you, but still be Audacious enough to Live, to Laugh, to Love and BEGIN – AGAIN!!!!!!!!

 

PS

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of everyone who has lost a loved one this year. Whether to COVID-19 or any other causes. May God continue to comfort all of you.

 

MAY YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL YEAR!!!!!!!