If you are a fan of animated movies, there’s a good possibility that you might have watched Kung Fu Panda. If you haven’t yet, now is a good time! Well, that’s of course, applicable only if you are practising a non-life essential profession and observing home quarantine. In the movie, the wise old grandmaster Oogway says, “One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.”
Coronavirus has successfully confined the majority of the human population across the world within the walls of their homes. Now while this situation is one that not many expected to find themselves being trapped in, it can be said that to a certain extent, it is a blessing in disguise.
It is an age-old saying that every dark cloud comes with a silver lining. So what are the positives that we can draw from this virus that has put a majority of the human race under house arrest?
Just before taking a deep dive into the positives though, it is important to know that in no way should anyone underestimate the devastative effects of COVID-19, the disease caused by Coronavirus. It is a serious problem and a potential threat to the entire human race. Hence, it is highly recommended that we strictly follow the lead of the World Health Organisation and do as instructed to defend ourselves by choking the spread of this virus.
Apparently, in the current situation, defense is the greatest form of attack we have. By doing so, we can combat the spread of this virus and that shall then push the virus towards its destruction. You can get the latest official updates from WHO via https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Now, moving on to the extractable positive lessons for humanity that this pandemic has brought along with itself, or what could be termed as its positive ‘side effects’.
- Personal hygiene:
Washing your hands often with soap is a simple yet effective habit. Also, it is one that has been underestimated until now. The precautionary campaigns to prevent the spread of coronavirus have made many realise how a simple soap can kill viruses and/or bacterias that may be clinging on to the surface of your hands. We use our hands to greet others, touch many surfaces with it as a part of our daily activities and hence it becomes the most exposed part of our body. So wash your hands well and wash them regularly. However, keep in mind that you do not keep the tap water running all throughout the time you are washing your hand. Let’s not contribute towards another crisis (water shortage) whilst we are already in the midst of one.
- Reduced needless meat consumption:
A good feast seems incomplete without meat to many. After all this is over, one can expect a huge shift towards vegetarianism. After all, the viruses and bacteria that are present in meat, especially wet meat, cannot exist in fruits and vegetables. Also, there’s a reason why our ancestors used to cook food well before eating. One should not disrespect the age-old collective wisdom of humanity, especially when it comes to matters of health. Eating rare and medium-rare cooked meat is not a healthy practise as not all of the virus and bacteria present in the meat might have been killed. Cook it well if you wish to continue being a meat-eater, else just shift to plants and vegetables. You might as well find yourself to be in awe of the variety of delectable flavours that a vegetarian diet can bring to your table.
- Pause the chaos:
It seems as though the world is taking a much-needed break by putting the endless human-designed chaos to a pause. Media reports have been coming out informing lower pollution levels that lead to better air quality indexes around the globe. To add to this are reports that suggest the ozone layer has begun to heal itself too, again thanks to lower pollution levels. Many residents of metropolitan cities around the world have already started sharing photos and videos about the return of birds to their surroundings. The chirps of these birds seem to have charmed many and thereby helped reduce stress and anxiety caused due to staying indoors.
- Family time:
Say what? One of the best things to happen amidst this pandemic is the fact that people are spending more time at home, with their family. Little children are happy to see their parents around and so are the elderly seeing their children around. Young and middle-aged people are often found overlooking the benefit of spending quality time with their loved ones. This pandemic has left many such with no other option but embrace the love and warmth of those who actually care for them and their presence. The work-life balance had gone for a toss in the lives of many and today that balance seems to be getting restored. One has to remember that for any company, each and every employee is replaceable. Take the legendary Steve Jobs for example, did Apple Inc. cease to exist after the demise of Steve Jobs? The answer is no, they REPLACED him with another CEO. But if you think of it, how many of you are replaceable for your children, or for that matter even for your parents? You are not replaceable for your children and your parents, so learn to care for them more than you care for the company you are working for.
- Work from home:
Travelling to and from work in cramped public transport mediums like railways, metro, buses, etc., is not something unusual for many of us. When it comes to the same commute in private modes of transport like cars and motorbikes, traffic jams on packed roads have for a long time been a pain. What this pandemic has made us realise that there are many job roles nowadays that can accommodate work from home. One should keep this major takeaway in mind even when things start returning to normal. Doing so will not only save unwanted pollution but will also allow people to work more efficiently as they won’t be drained of their energies that get wasted due to cumbersome daily travel to and from office spaces.
- Identify the essentials:
People have come to realise the importance of sanitation workers and small grocery shop owners who spend their lives making a living out of serving their local community. Not only have we realised their importance, but also learnt to give them respect and treat them with a lot more dignity. These people, not the celebrities we seem to be obsessed with, are the ones who play essential roles in the smooth functioning of our daily lives.
- Respect nature:
When was the last time humans were made to realise that we ought not to meddle with nature? The forces that ensure placid functioning of the world are far more mystical and powerful than we shall ever be able to gather. This pandemic has made many people realise just that. One should learn that consumption of anything and everything that fancies the senses is not the right thing to do. Continuing to do so blindly shall only result in outbreaks of diseases like COVID-19 due to novel viruses like the Coronavirus.
What are your thoughts about the potential positives to take from the Coronavirus pandemic? Do you agree with the pointers mentioned above? Have we missed out on some positives that you have noticed? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
(editor@thebigbinge.com)
► Subscribe Now: https://goo.gl/tQ3Ujq and then click on 🔔to stay updated!