Well, a little over an entire year has gone by. Things have largely remained status quo, or perhaps worse. While this was what was predicted last year itself, the small hopeful part of one’s mind really did hope that things wouldn’t get SO bad. Sadly, though Hope is what drives our very existence, that’s not how the real world works. What has to happen will happen, no matter what. The inevitable could only be delayed, not prevented.
The
past year has uncovered many truths and facets – of people, of situations.
There have been various acts of kindness, far beyond what one would’ve dreamt
about or even thought of being possible. People have gone out of the way to
help someone in need, many a times not even knowing who they are actually
helping. I personally know quite a few people who have been very actively involved
in collection and distribution of basic resources and kits amongst the less
fortunate section of the society. I know people who personally distribute food
for the homeless and the needy – no photo ops, no selfies, nothing. I know
people who’ve been feeding the non-human species too, who’ve suffered a lot as
well. That’s how the human spirit works possibly; when the going gets tough,
the tough gets going.
At
the same time, there have been whiners and those who complain. Complain about
the way things are being handled, complain about the government, complain about
the healthcare and vaccine policies. At times, the complaints are quite
selective too, based on political or religious agendas. Complain is probably all they’ve done in their lives; lives otherwise totally cut
out from ground reality; complain while they sit happily in a remote cabin
in the woods sipping on tea, or while on a Summer holiday in Europe. They fail
to realize how superfluous they sound or seem, or maybe the whole circle of
people that surround them are that way- elite, entitled, snobbish, and always
unhappy. Ask them if they’ve helped in anyway, the response will be
quick – why should we? It’s the Government’s job, not ours’, we pay our taxes.
Of course they’re right. And that’s what sets this bunch of folks apart from
the common man of India. Irrelevant and nasty.
The gloom is unending. Especially if you belong to a family where people are employed directly or indirectly where the exposure to the virus happens on a day to day basis. Add to that the new fear of healthcare professionals being assaulted if a patient doesn’t make it. The fear is real. Very much real. As a fresh MBBS graduate I remember going all out to “help” people clear their doubts, procure medicines, even accompany to hospitals despite them having all the manpower. Over the years, the interest now has worn off. Having observed and myself having had some uncomfortable experiences, I have now realized it is best to stay away from giving advice, unless you’re sure that the people who ask you will not blame you later. Except for the people who I consider my very own, who will not question my judgement if things do not go as planned, I am not obliged to answer peoples’ queries, especially if they are seeking treatment from another doctor, and are asking you just to confirm if the other doctor is right. I usually answer such queries with the standard ‘trust your treating doctor, else his/her treatment will simply not work’! The next fear is that of contracting the virus at work. Many of us have now had direct or indirect contact, and the thought of spreading it to loved ones, vulnerable loved ones, is very much real.
Well. Fear is not good for the mind. Fear of the known is one thing. Fear of the unknown is worse!
It hampers your thinking process. It hampers your productivity. It messes with your judgement and critical thinking capacity as well. So what does one do then! I don't know about the others. My own techniques have been quite simple. Cut off as much as possible from social media. Simply unfollow people who take pleasure in posting only negative news. Yes, there's been a lot of horrible things that've happened over the past year. But if that's all you can post, I might as well unfollow you for my own mental peace. I've read more than ever before, mainly spiritual books. I've tried to give my best at work. I've tried to reduce indulging in gossip as much as possible. And also, the time spent each night with the community doggos that live on my street has been a source of immense satisfaction and happiness to me.
How have you dealt with stress?
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