Since the global outbreak of COVID-19, the world has been flipped upside down. Social mandates have been put into place to flatten the curve, schools are now completely online, homes have become offices, classrooms, entertainment places, and so much more as we all do our best to reduce the spread of COVID-19. In this new world, uncertainty seems to be the only certain thing we know right now.
At this time, it would be easy to find many aspects of this new lifestyle the world is in to be quite negative. We are stuck at home, not being able to see family and friends. Many people are no longer working and are now faced with figuring out their financial situations. Seniors around the world have been stripped of some of the most important moments of their lives, missing out on senior farewells and graduations, the moments that truly last a lifetime. Each of these factors has now become their own niche for people to fall into, wondering when life will get back to normal. Get back to a time that we knew and could easily navigate. But there is always more to the picture. The funny thing about life is that nothing is normal, and a new day is never guaranteed. This may have just been our wake-up call to that most absolute fact.
In no way is this trying to degrade the real-life issues that people around the globe are facing right now. This is a scary time for everyone, and we will get through this together. But for the first time in a long time, this quarantine we are all is a reminder that each day we have on this earth is precious and most importantly, uncertain. Whether the world likes to be reminded of it or not, we are not unstoppable. That does not mean we are hopeless. We have seen so many people really step up to do their part in helping others. Every one of us does our part when we stay home. Buying only what you need so that others can also have necessities as well is spreading the positivity in this dark time. Each day that we do our part to combat COVID-19 is another day we acknowledge uncertainty and keep moving forward.
It is easy to say, “Just embrace the uncertain and life will be alright,” because that may seem to be a temporary way to deal with things. But even when life has a course, is it always fixed and certain for us? Do college seniors who have a graduation ceremony have a complete path to jump on once they are done with school? Do people in the workforce get up every day and know that they will have an outstanding day ahead of them? We are constantly living in the uncertain, no matter how much we think we are in control of the many factors in our lives. This is just another aspect to add. And yes, it is scary, and we still do not know a lot, but that does not mean we need to stop living in order to survive. Everything we did before the outbreak can still be done, just a bit differently. Keeping connections with friends and family is doable through different forms of communication. Now is the best time to start a hobby that you may have been thinking of for some time now, like puzzles, a Rubik’s cube, or a new book. Maybe listen to some music by your favorite artist again because it reminds you of why you fell in love with them in the first place. Reinvent yourself again and again because this is the best time to do it.
As we continue to see the world evolve due to COVID-19, we see an evolution within ourselves as well. We are finding out what we like, the people we truly care about in our lives, and the things that truly matter most to us. In this time of darkness, there is a bit of light within each one of us. Healthcare workers, postal service workers, food and grocery workers are doing their jobs diligently, making sure some aspects of life have not changed much. With each new day, we all start again and strive for the same goal: flatten the curve, reduce the spread. In this time of uncertainty, we still have the power to take control and make ourselves certain of one another. We do not have all the answers to COVID-19, but we never had all of the answers to life before this anyway. This journey has not been easy and there is still more ahead of us. With the recognition of the uncertainty we face, there is one thing we know for sure: we are in this together, living life in the uncertain lane but we carry on strong and united.