The Way Out : Addressing the corona crisis

" He says the best way out is always through,
 And I agree to that, or so in far
 As that I can see no way but through"  
Robert Frost.

24th of March,2020 would have been another ordinary day for most of us Indians, if not for the unprecedented revelation of a following 21 day lock down- in lieu of the Corona Virus Crisis- throughout the nation, revealed by none other than our Prime Minister. The announcement astonished citizens country wide, and immediately, there was a frenzy in local marketplaces.Nobody was prepared.
People, including my own parents, rushed to the nearest shops and began hoarding resources in order to survive the upcoming quarantine, afraid of running out on basic necessities. The sudden panic, though, silenced down quickly.
Undeniably, it was initially manifested as arduous and dull, majorly because each one of us has grown tirelessly used to the hustle-bustle of life and the rapidity with which it proceeds. Though slowly as we adjusted to the oddly comforting seclusion of our homes, constantly being surrounded by loved ones, our idle minds gave way to vividly look at the unexplored positives in life.

HAVOC

I agree if you think that this is not the most 'positive' header I came up with. But hear me out here.
I  have learnt a lot many things during these extensive 21 days. One of them has been to never underestimate the self-destructing nature of humankind. After all, what is the sole purpose of this lock down?
To stabilize and curb the chaos that we have caused, to restore order to our cosmos and to set things right, especially being the main reason behind it.
Our deeds have wreaked immense havoc, and nonetheless, it's us who will pay. Nature makes sure of that.

ACQUAINTED WITH THE NIGHT

Life, on the whole, has come to a standstill. Who would have imagined the fast-paced world we live in, along with 7 billion others, coming to a grinding halt? But what has only been imagined in centuries, has been accomplished by a non-cellular species, of diameter 120 nano meters.

Stunning, isn't it?

The birth of this virus, though, has dawned specks of wisdom on each one of us, finally making us realize something we wouldn't have ever laid a second thought upon.

In a nutshell, it's high time we understood the difference between the cost of living and living at that cost.If we are able to survive these dark evenings without indulging in wasteful expenditures and empty luxuries, we can most certainly fight our way to the brightest mornings awaiting us.

And to be the ones well acquainted with the night, it won't be hard.

THE CURTAIN LIFTS

Remember the echoing clatters of plates and spoons and the blazing flicker of diyas?

On both these momentous days, we stood in the front porches and balconies of our homes, showing respect to those who have come to the nation's rescue, yet again.

The third most crucial lesson I drew from this solitary confinement, is the need to acknowledge and appreciate those who are working day in and out at the moment, minimising all possibilities of damage.

As the curtain lifted, I experienced a new found admiration and regard for all the brave hearts slogging behind it. Medical professionals, police officers, the Indian Defense Forces, municipal corporation workers and so many more.

Although still backstage, the country's teachers are working just as diligently, determined to put in maximum efforts and efficiently utilising the lock down. {On a completely unrelated note, I suggest  they take a break from all of it.....and let us relax for a while 😬😬😬 }

SELF-REDISCOVERY

Admit it. We needed a break. A break from the stress, the loss, the pain, the sufferings, the work and the negativity that surrounds each one of us right now.  Survival out there is tough, and we can break under the pressure at times. And no matter how many of you are hell bent on looking at the glass half empty, I definitely perceive this situation as one where everyone and everything is getting a break from the complexity of the world.

The youth, an indispensable part of the population, is finally getting time for themselves. Caught up in the ever-tightening web of competition, we young adults have exhausted ourselves out, and needed a cut-off, a rejuvenation to rework our strategies, to reform our lives and to tread the path of internal happiness.

On the global front too, this is the ideal moment for the old and young alike, to recover from the misery encasing our existence, and to untether themselves from this labyrinth of sufferings. 
The nature has finally been freed from the relentless shackles of man, and is carefree like never before.

Personally speaking, traversing the road to self-exploration and revitalization, I guess I have figured out more about myself than I ever though I would. Bonding with my family, learning a new instrument, discharging my social responsibilities and strangely, even studying😶 , has made me realize how much I needed to spend time with myself.

Learning is an ever progressing magnanimity, no matter what the situation is. There are numerous lessons that we, as humans are obliged to acquire from the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of them imploring us to look at life in different way, a hopeful way.

The best way out, as Robert Frost stated, is through. 

We cannot fight Corona by deflecting it, or ignoring the constructive lessons hidden beneath. We must learn to set aside our boundaries of nationality and religion, and come together, standing divided and yet, united.

Published by-
Tiara Arora, Class XII
cleopatratia18@gmail.com