Nick Paul, our Estate Manager at The Somerset Lifestyle and Retirement Village, writes:
“It is hard to believe that the end of March marks three years since Lockdown was initiated in South Africa. Prior to COVID-19, most of us cruised through life. Able to spend time with friends and family, participating in various clubs and attending events. Little did we know, our fast-paced life would come to a halt at the end of March 2020.
Quarantine was a difficult change, yet reconstructing life within the walls of our homes opened new doors for us. Reflecting on these past three years, we’ve realized living through the pandemic has taught us new, valuable lessons about ourselves and the world around us. COVID-19 has taught us five important lessons in life.
Humans are adaptable
Whether staying home 24/7 or attending virtual meetings, we were forced to adapt our everyday routine to fit the coronavirus times. All of a sudden, we couldn’t see our friends, talk to our families face-to-face or even go on a grocery store run. As we look back on the first few years of quarantine, this adaptability was the biggest and most unique challenge. Millions of people discovered their inner adaptability, an inner strength, a quality they may have never known existed.
The little things matter
In our hyperactive world, it’s easy to take things and moments for granted: hanging out with friends, spending time with family, going out to a restaurant. As soon as COVID-19 cut us off from the world, these tiny nuances became ever so important. Suddenly, we found ourselves craving hot chips from the local takeaway or yearning for a trip to a wine farm. Amidst the isolation, we cherished the “hello” and “have a good day” exchanged between our neighbours on our daily walks. We had always been so caught up in the grand events of life that we forgot how meaningful the small, intimate moments were too. We now appreciate the liveliness of a fun grocery shopping trip, the joy of a lunch date with our family and the comfort in a small, friendly gesture from a neighbour or a stranger.
A positive perspective is powerful
The harsh reality is that life will throw us curve balls when we least expect them. A pandemic was one of them. People were faced with fears of contracting this unknown virus, of hospitalizations and of losing loved ones. People were thrown into the depths of boredom, frustration and loneliness as we navigated the uncertainty of living in quarantine. Instead of sulking in the negatives, the situation eventually taught us to view life through a positive lens. Rather than focusing on our inability to go out and see friends, we took the opportunity to spend extra time with our family, learn to cook, exercise daily and discover new time-filling hobbies. It’s easy to complain about what you don’t have. The challenge is appreciating and working with the new and unique opportunities that you are given.
Kindness goes a long way
The pandemic stirred a lot of anger and frustration from within the nation, especially concerning politics and mask-wearing. Given the immense losses and suffering our country has endured, even the smallest act of kindness goes a long way. Whether you buy someone’s coffee or lend a sympathetic hand, the only way to survive a crisis like this is to come together, help each other out, and use kindness as our ultimate superpower.
Life is not a given
If the past three years have collectively taught us anything, it’s that life is not guaranteed. We have learned to truly appreciate every day that we are alive. We no longer complain about the unimportant nuances in life, but rather reflect on our blessings. We should no longer focus on what we don’t have, but should rather redirect our attention toward what we do have. Appreciate our loved ones both here and overseas. Now, we should say thank you. Thank you for our families. Thank you for our friends. Thank you for our health. Thank you for another day we have conquered.”
To view our album: Lockdown diaries at The Somerset Lifestyle and Retirement Village, click here.
