the world will never end
One recurring thought I’ve been having is, “How much of my life right now will persist after the pandemic ends?” Not exactly “How will things change,” but “How much will stay the same?” When the casualty counter we’ve all nervously been checking every morning drops down to zero and the final coronavirus patient is released from the hospital to a round of raucous applause, what will happen next? Will things return to normal? Will “normal” even be the same? When will we grieve for those that we lost? When will we pop back into our favorite pubs and schedule Tinder dates and soak in hot tubs?
Truthfully, I think we’ll settle back into our old lives pretty quickly and comfortably. It’s tempting to think that we’ll stop taking our old lives for granted that have been missing during these times. The warm hug of a close friend, the idyllic perusal of fully stocked Trader Joe’s shelves, the blissful ignorance of airplane hygiene, the wonderful invitation of a sunny day. Having these back again will mean the world to each of us.
But we’ll soon forget that we ever lost them, I think. Just like with anything else that we lose, like a cell phone or wallet. Finding them again yields a huge sigh of relief and a promise to be more careful, but as soon as the device goes back into its pocket, life reverts to its pre-lost-item state.
There was one week in Michigan when I was 8 years old where the power went out for eight days (1). We never expected it to happen. It’s not like in India, where power outages are commonplace and people patiently wait it out. Neither the electricity companies nor us knew when it would come back. So we rode it out as best we could. We ate the soon-to-perish food first, gathered all of our candles for evening lighting, compiled all of our blankets and sheets into our family room as it was far cooler than any of our individual rooms.
When I asked my parents what we did to stay busy during that time, they shook their heads absently. They simply don’t remember. I figure the activities we did at that time were so mundane that once the power returned, the resumption of real life rinsed away the boredom like mouthwash, so now I have absolutely no memory of what that little sliver of life was like.
On the other hand, the reality of the coronavirus pandemic is much starker than a mere power outage. Returning to real life won’t be as easy as flipping a switch. There will be trauma involved. Just look at the soberingly warlike terminology used to describe it: Seattle being “ground zero” of the pandemic in America, hospital personnel being on the “front lines,” us winning/losing the “fight” against the coronavirus. People are dying, losing jobs, or living in fear. These stakes characterize the momentary pause that our world has taken as a true calamity, and it leaves us with what I see as (very roughly) two camps of people:
Low-Risk. These are the people that don’t have to touch others or go out to work. They can work from home and have a Netflix subscription, a bookshelf of unread novels, or a burgeoning idea for a tap dance routine. In any case, they’re protected from the day-to-day risks that many others face and have ample activities to attend to in their down time.
High-Risk. These people are directly impacted by the pandemic. Hospital workers, funeral home workers, delivery people, grocery store workers, hospital workers, elderly people (especially nursing home residents), people with pre-existing health conditions, workers depending on public transportation, artists, musicians, hospital workers, low-income families, and volunteers providing groceries and supplies to those in need. These people are essential to running whatever’s left of the world, cannot work from home, and/or are in close physical contact with other people. I’m sure I’ve missed some groups; feel free to leave them in the comments.
As simplistic of a view as this is, I think it’s important for those in the Low-Risk group to help those in the High-Risk group. And while the material help is important, the togetherness is equally important. This is an opportunity for us to set a standard for humanity so that people down the line will behave with selflessness and gratitude. It doesn’t mean we have to be perfect. We just need to give back however we can in small ways, and let our positivity ripple outwards.
One idea that I’m sure many have followed is donating to the several charitable causes that have circulated the Internet. Here are a few initiatives that I’ve recently come across that I encourage you to look at:
Post initiatives of your own in the comments below!
On a closing note, it’ll be really easy to fall prey to cynicism. There’s this heavy, Cold War-type air of unexpected tension, of waking up every morning to a catastrophe striking close to home. We don’t feel like we’re in good hands, and our future looks uncertain. There’s been no singular leader that we’ve been able to look up to. We have appointed officials in government and public health that have no idea what to do for our future. Where are our leaders? Where are the heroes?
I have some predictions on how life will change after the pandemic ends (2):
Healthcare policy (at least in America) will take a hefty kick to the ribs. While individual health care workers deserve respect and praise, the policies that the system enacts are garbage and require a revamp. Civilians will step up and demand a health care system that fairly serves them. Health care will be the main platform that politicians at all levels of government will leverage for years to come.
Masks and gloves will become a fashion trend for some period of time, if not indefinitely. People have already been crafting unique masks of their own design, and once social distancing is no longer required, many people will continue wearing masks out of caution. Pretty soon, we’ll attach significance to these garments, and there will be at least three luxury brand clothing retailers that sell designer face masks.
Hospital workers will require attention and care once things are over. I’ve heard stories and witnessed breakdowns of medical staff that were thrust into a different role than they’re used to because of the sheer influx of coronavirus patients. They’ll need physical, psychological, and emotional care after things have settled down.
We’ll experience a feeling of world unity. We always thought it’d be aliens that did it instead of a persistent germ multiplied by globalization. I don’t know how long this feeling will last or what it will look like exactly, but I’ll give it a shot: I think we’ll all have something important in common with one another. We’ll have had a common enemy and will have our own healing processes to endure as we move forward. Once things settle, nations will then judge each other for the effectiveness of their responses to the outbreak, and the hierarchy will return.
But at least, for that little gap of time beforehand, we’ll understand each other. We’ll sort of stumble out of the battlefield smoke for a moment, ears ringing, and we’ll share knowing looks as we understand that we are the same. We’ll acknowledge each other on the news, and we’ll honor those that have fallen all around the world. We will grieve together. Never mind how much of it is political, or for show. It will still happen. Maybe this togetherness will even last, and research is freely exchanged for the benefit of humanity, our priorities recalibrated in the aftermath.I hold out hope for the children. Maybe they’ll look up to the brave souls volunteering and working extra hours to save people afflicted with the disease. We’ve developed creative ways of supporting each other and maintaining connection (video calls, virtual game nights, clapping for hospital workers, etc.) are truly inspiring. We refuse to halt those essential parts of our lives, and that sends a powerful message to kids.
(1) Except that it was actually only a three day power outage, as my dad just confirmed, which speaks to how long the time actually felt.
(2) I gathered some of these ideas after discussion with several of my friends. Thanks to Yoav, Linglu, Nikil, Shaurya, and Sameer for the unintentional collaboration :)
My friends (still) do cool things too!
Nikil once again delivered a weekly hip-hop track review with a solid spread of influences. Check it out for some organic, magnesium-filled tunes to kick your week off to a healthy start.
My friend Nitin just keeps getting better and better. Check out his new track here: