The current onslaught of Coronavirus has brought about several changes to our normal lifestyle and has resulted in several government interventions that have never taken place before. It has resulted in several deaths across the globe while restriction in basic travel and movement has grounded people within the four walls of their homes. But as humans, we always find a way out and adapt to the severe changes. We must encourage people to look at the glass half full, so here are the seven learnings we can get from this eye-opening experience.

Health is indeed wealth

We all have heard this saying, but the COVID 19 pandemic has brought this message home, literally and figuratively! The human body is such a magnificent creation, that we must realise how to treasure it and make it stronger so it can support us in desperate times. Do people need to smoke, even though it will damage the lungs? We need to develop healthy lifestyle choices, through regular exercise and healthy diets.

Do we need to travel so much?

Travelling is fun and we learn a lot about different cultures and people when we visit different countries, but considering the carbon footprint that each person carries, perhaps we need to be more considerate about the environment. Also, one of the catalysts of the global spread of coronavirus is the fact that we travel a lot more than we need. Yes, everybody loves a picture with a background of a sunny beach or a towering monument, but does it need to happen three or four times a year?

Everybody is equal in front of nature

Even in the unfortunate circumstances that we are in today, an important learning is that this pandemic has proven to be a great leveller of sorts.Be it young or old, man or woman, rich or poor, any ethnic, social or religious background; in front of nature, all are the same. At least now we need to remove these barriers and realise that at the end of the day we are all human beings. We need to care for each other, support each other more than anything else, work together to fight this pandemic.

Value what you have

Some people in several developing countries, do not have the capability to self-isolate at home even when they have received instructions from their government to do so. Access to safe drinking water, food and electricity, other things that we take for granted in our daily lives is a massive challenge for others. We must realise the privileged position that we enjoy and we should take this self-isolation in our stride. A lot of people complain of boredom, as they are cooped in their own homes, but imagine the state of kids during wartime with no Tv, no videogames and no internet to entertain themselves. We have to appreciate our situation.

Spend time with people you love

In our busy lives of school or work, we seldom appreciate the quality time we get to spend with our loved ones. This is the time we need to pick up our phones and make the video calls to our grandparents, our extended family and friends and reconnect to reminisce the good times. We could also indulge in a board game or learn how to play cards, or watch a movie as a family and laugh through the difficulties.

Follow the rules and think about others

A new term that has come into our vocabulary during this crisis is social distancing, but it is ironic that though we are told to maintain social distance, COVID 19 has taught us that we must be socially responsible. If we even have minor symptoms, the first thing we are told is to think about others, and we must continue this endeavour even after the crisis passes. We don’t need to face such a big disaster to learn this basic tenet of community living.

The people who make a real difference

A £150 000 yearly pay packet sounds great, so does a corner office room in an elite central London location and an Audi company car but if the COVID 19 pandemic has brought home a few truths is that every cog in the economic wheel has its place. A frontline NHS nurse caring for patients without worrying about her safety, a teacher looking after the children of the key workers, the supermarket staff working round the clock, these people irrespective of their paycheque or social status are equally if not more important than the white-collar workers. We need to acknowledge and honour these people more than ever.

So, let us take these learning and imbibe them into our lives and those of the future generation.

by Rathi Ramakrishnan, Nower Hill High School