What I learned from my 'first' pandemic?

Here we are, three months into the pandemic since it first struck us here… Does it sound like the beginning of a sci-fi movie with a plot of how life ended on earth? how original…

During the last couple of months, life was not that easy, I will admit that. This is not surprising to anyone because I know everyone got affected from this, but I truly can’t imagine how bad would it be if we lived in a different time and place. I still remember how it took everyone by surprise. I still remember my older brother and I discussing how fast this is going to be resolved, and how quick we’re going to “get back to the norm”, this ‘norm’ which makes me start doubting how life after the pandemic is going to be? How it affected me, my family, my community, my country, and the whole world? I still remember how people looked at me once before this whole situation happened, pressing the elevator buttons with the back of my knuckles, thinking I was a germaphobe (which is totally true), and how nervous I get when someone puts their utensils directly on the kitchen counter. What actually worries me now is how many loved ones have we lost just because we’re ignorant and we think only the best is going to happen to us?

“Getting back to the norm” almost happened this last week, Sunday, May 31st, when businesses reopened, and “office work” really meant what it means. I saw people who are relieved and stressed at the same time, I think we are overwhelmed because we now have that option to go out but at our own risk!

Life stopped for a bit. Now, we’re trying to get back to the sea, as everyone of us has to sail their own boat and head to the shore. The good news is, sooner or later, you will get to the shore… “As these viruses get more vicious, humanity is gaining more knowledge on how to eradicate them”, “We have never been more prepared to fend off such pandemics”, all these sayings are true, we still have hope, we learned so much from similar pandemics and small scale outbreaks before. Look at how humanity has come to eradicate viruses such as Smallpox. This what gives us hope that we can go through this, this has been a battle since day one on this earth, humanity indeed learned to adapt to wars.