“It's not a bad idea to occasionally spend a little time thinking about things you take for granted. Simple everyday objects. "~ Evan Davis
Let me go back in time. Not too long, but only six months ago, when the virus outbreak had not yet occurred. I cursed the traffic, complained that the beer in a bar wasn't cold enough, and hated that the supermarket next to my house didn't have my favorite deodorant.
Soon after, my country was blocked like many others due to the global pandemic. When I was inside, I realized how beautiful and blessed I was to live a life that I used to think was regular and ordinary. I didn't know I took things for granted and complained about the most trivial problems.
When I look back now, I notice many special areas of life, the meaning of which I did not understand in the past.
1. Freedom
I had a choice of where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. As long as I haven't done anything illegal or broken any rules, of course.
I was free to live life the way I wanted to. No holds locked and no questions asked. It was my life and my choice.
However, if I had to drive too far, I would complain about the miles I had to travel. During the closure, I needed a valid reason to cover this distance and face up to police officers who would surely not allow me to get there.
When I stay inside, I learned that it makes you uncomfortable to lose control of the basic aspects of your life. These are the things we think are common and expected. We only recognize the value of them when they disappear.
2. Comfort
Life and technology have developed by leaps and bounds over the years. In fact, today's life is drastically different from what it was a decade ago. Back then, you had to have a digital camera for photos, self-driving cars weren't on the road yet, and group news wasn't even a thing.
Now we enjoy so many benefits from the comfort of our couch. You can order food, have your car washed, or send a package to your friend without stepping outside your front door. If the deliverer was ten minutes late, I mentally cursed the company for having to wait.
I would wait a whole day for the same service during the ban. The convenience of technology and the services that different companies offer are invaluable.
3rd variety
It was difficult for me to pick vegetables. I rolled my eyes and said, “Someone has to produce new vegetables. I can't always eat right away. "That was despite a large selection in the supermarket. I wanted something fresh and new.
The same was true for the grain that I bought, the restaurants where I ate, or the mall that I visited. I had had enough of the grain that seemed to taste right away. I was tired of the restaurants near my house. I wanted other shopping options than the usual mall next door.
I would cover an extra distance to add variety to my life. During the ban, I wasn't even privileged to enjoy the usual options.
The more variety we have, the more we long. Desire is like a treadmill that runs on infinite electricity. It never ends.
4. The fun outside
No matter what city you live in, there are countless ways to have fun and relax. I had the opportunity to watch every movie, bowl, no matter how bad I was, or enjoy the adrenaline of a kart race.
Although I had a lot of opportunities to have fun, I compared my city to others. I complained: “Damn, my city has no way of enjoying nature. I have to walk for miles to go on a hike. "
When I was locked up and resorted to board games, I realized just how much fun my city is.
5. Human interaction
If I went out with a large group, it would be a burden. As an introvert, I only preferred a certain level of interaction. In addition, I would choose to be alone as a contact. The smile seemed artificial and the handshake seemed unnecessary.
When I come across a passer-by today, the smile is hidden behind the mask and a handshake is out of the question. We used to call the people around us a "crowd", but now we call our situation "isolation".
The memes on the Internet that say that introverts feel no difference indoors are not true. Both introverts and extroverts need at least some form of interaction to feel connected to the rest of the world.
6. The power of teams
Before we had to solve a problem at work, we gathered in a room and exchanged ideas. Many complex problems found a solution because people can improve their thoughts to achieve the desired result.
Today it is a nightmare to enable such a conversation. Video conferencing tools provide a workable workaround for one-on-one meetings and team meetings where all updates are shared. But they cannot replace a lot of smart people sitting in a real room and discussing ideas together.
In addition, teams that see each other better each day. The physical presence creates a connection that goes beyond pure working relationships. It is the strength of such bonds that enables organizations to achieve massive goals.
I recognize the power of teams, even more today when they can no longer work as they used to.
7. The huge network of business
The economy is like a huge castle made up of many individual Lego blocks. If you take one out, you will feel no difference. Take out another one, still not too big a pinch. Take out a few more and the whole structure will collapse in chaos.
Different parts of the economy are interdependent, even if they do not appear obvious. By switching off public transport, many people were unemployed and could not earn their daily wages. A lack of transportation implied that goods could not flow freely. As a result, we did not have all of the supplies in your supermarket.
Every contribution to the economy helps to keep it stable. If everything goes well, you will not notice their contribution. If some parts break, understand their role to keep the whole structure stable together.
The Lessons I Learned From Lockdown
The last few weeks of closure have taught me some invaluable lessons that I will remember for the rest of my life.
1. Enjoy the present.
For a long time I have striven for gigantic goals. As a result, my eyes are always on the future, and every day is a challenge to get there.
But the world around you is full of things that can be enjoyed, appreciated and enjoyed in the present. I'm not saying you have to stop pursuing your goals and have to enjoy alone today. I will continue to pursue goals as before, and you should. But while you're on this trip, don't forget to pause and experience the happiness around you.
Don't lose sight of the present by focusing solely on the future.
2. You only feel the pain when something is missing.
Some things in your daily life seem normal and expected. For example:
You expect to find everything you need in a supermarket
They expect the pizza to arrive within 30 minutes
You expect the mechanic to show up and repair your broken vehicle
Over time, such expectations lose the value of small things in life. Don't take things like that for granted. You never know why and how they can be torn away from you. You only feel the pain when you lose the privilege altogether.
3. Your emotions are defined by what you want to see.
No matter who you are, what you do and what part of the world you belong to, you always see what you want to see. If you want to have a reason to complain, you will find a lot of things around you that are not right. If you are looking for happiness, you will notice many parts of your life that are a reason for joy.
Everyone shows a common reaction when things go well. Some people toast, people toast and everyone dances to music.
But you can't always control the world around you to work in your favor. The market can collapse, a natural disaster can occur, or a virus outbreak can occur.
What you can control is how you respond to such disasters to stay strong. Your reaction to such mishaps defines you.
The global pandemic due to the corona virus made my life harder. But on the positive side, it made me stronger.
“When we encounter a real tragedy in life, we can respond in two ways – either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength. Thanks to Buddha's teachings, I was able to take this second path. "~ Dalai Lama
About Maxim Dsouza
Maxim Dsouza is a blogger who improves himself. He was part of several failed startups and learned it the hard way. In his blog Productive Club, he offers unique tips and tricks on productivity, time management and entrepreneurship from his real experience.
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