As we head into week two of the 21-day lockdown amid the Covid-19 pandemic, I have to admit that, if someone should ask me if I am surviving, my honest answer would simply be, “Barely”.
I have been working from home since the lockdown started, and I have never realised that human beings can be so full of drama, and, to use my teenage daughter’s expression, extra.
Every social media post I see on my timeline (because I have to rely more on these media to be able to do my work, since my movement has been limited) aims to either create hysteria, panic or to spread fake news. If it does not do that, the tone of these messages are so negative and it seems that everyone has changed into prophets of doom.
And, in normal circumstances, these types of things usually do not get to me, but, with things as they are in our beautiful country at present, I became a victim of these posts.
I am experiencing a roller coaster of emotions, varying from worry, anxiety, uncertainty to an overall feeling of helplessness. Not only do I worry about our people and the overall arrogance being displayed towards this enemy we all are trying to fight, I worry for my daughter who has to cope with the uncertainty of how her matric year is going to play out. And, as I sit and watch her diligently trying to keep up with school work, putting on a brave face, I feel helpless, because I cannot answer all her questions or alleviate her fears regarding how this is going to play out. I cannot even giver the reassurance that she will finish matric this year.
I worry about my family members’ safety, what would happen if the lockdown period was to be extended, and everything associated with that. What makes this worse, is the fact that all of these thoughts and emotions have been racing through me in a matter of minutes, overwhelming me to the point of almost hysteria.
And then I had a chat with my mother, who, in her wisdom, gave me sound advice. She said, “You have to stop worrying about everything and everyone else at once, you will only get upset. The only thing we can do is to take it one day at a time.”
These wise words helped to calm down the racing thoughts and emotions a bit, and restored perspective. And, even though I do not have all the answers, I need to take a deep breath and relax, because nothing I do will change what happened yesterday or what will happen tomorrow; I can only live for today and make the best of it.
Until next week, stay healthy and take it one day at a time …
