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CH 17: Parting thoughts

Many of you say that even when the extent of the threat I have posed is gone, things may not ever be the  same. Although I do not know how much I will continue to impact your lives, I do know that rushing to normalcy − whatever that may represent for you − will result in a missed opportunity to pause and reflect on the lessons embedded inside this once−in−a−life−time experience that happened to you because of me.

It is natural that you have started going back to work, schools and universities have reopened, restaurants and cafes have become busy, and transportation are gradually operating at full strength. You have started socializing like before, travels and tours have sprung back as those paused holidays have resumed and borders have reopened. The biggest mistake you can make is to take things for granted; this includes your life, loved ones, family, friends, health, wealth, freedom, and opportunities. Then there are things that money cannot buy and even I cannot take away − i.e. love and affection, care and giving, compassion and kindness, bravery and courage, generosity and sacrifice.

You have lived with me for few years. Spending your time, energy, and resources to curb my spread and fight my effect is understandable. What is not comprehensible is your failure to look into things beyond money, economy, employment, education and so on and so forth. As I bring my letter to an end, I leave you with a few questions to answer, which will hopefully illuminate what’s important in your lives. Think about my presence in the world, your life, and  consider all that has happened. This is more about you than me; here it goes…

1. During the pandemic, what are the things you have learned about yourself that you otherwise would not have?
2. Who are the people that matter most, and why? Are there those who previously mattered, but no longer do? Why?
3. Has the pandemic changed the things that matter most to you? Think about the things that have become more or less important to you and why your perspective has changed.
4. Are you a different person today than you were before the pandemic started? How has it changed you?
5. If I had taken your life and then you be given a second chance by your Creator, how would you be living your life? Why aren’t you doing it now while you still can?

I have said my piece. Hopefully, we will not see each other again. I sincerely hope the lessons learned during this ordeal will outlive my presence in your lives. As I already said, I am what I am with no option to change myself. You always have a choice – a choice to be different, better, stronger, kinder, and wiser. If you want to change the world, start with yourself. With that aura of optimism, let me leave you on a lighter note with some of the memes you have invented during this ordeal.

Finally, as we part our ways, let this not be another missed opportunity for you. I leave you with food for thought for a “Great Realization” so eloquently narrated, as a father speaks to his inquisitive son.

Good luck to you humans. Know that I’m rooting for you.

COVID.

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