Achieving unrealistic targets at any cost, being obsessed with money, cheating performance appraisals, possessing major jealous tendencies, stepping on others to get ahead, being vindictive, involved in scandals, betraying friends, abusing the weak, nit-picking, exploiting the poor and the system etc… were the order of the day for many prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Conversely, appreciating nature, valuing freedom, helping the needy, sharing our wealth and knowledge, carrying out our responsibilities in our jobs diligently and loving ourselves, families and friends, were less important than the rat race for many prior to the pandemic.
Terms such as Lockdowns, Movement Control Order (MCO), Work from Home, Stay at Home, personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing, sanitisation, mass vaccinations, quarantine, and contact tracing have emerged into our list of vocabulary. Complying with the various SOPs, being unable to visit someone in the hospital when they are unwell, being unable to pay the last respects to loved ones and friends, and being unable to attend to religious obligation, among others, have become the new order of the day.
We never truly valued and appreciated what was freely available. As such, this pandemic has certainly given us the rude wake-up call to appreciate everything nature has provided us.
It is not how many years we live that matters but rather are we living a meaningful life in all the years that we are living.
We need to be grateful to the Almighty that we are alive today despite the many who have lost their lives, and many others who have lost their income during this pandemic. We need to carve this in our minds and hearts so that we will value and appreciate these when we wake up alive to a new day.
Stay away from harmful influences or negative talks at every opportunity you get and look for ways during the day to give yourself a break from the hectic pace of life.
By doing so, you will appreciate nature and do good to yourself, and you will also remember to do good to others around you.
Remember taking breaks is crucial, as it facilitates healthy times of rest for every level and aspect of life, more so during this pandemic.
Overworking prior to the pandemic was a grave mistake. Hence, do not overwork during this pandemic as it will cause more harm to yourself while your loved ones are hoping to greet you anxiously for your safe return home from work.
“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.” Chinese Proverb