What has COVID changed in me?

I know this might not be the right platform to talk about such a messed up topic. As we look around we see that COVID has taken the most from us, some of us have lost a close one to this deadly disease, millions have lost their jobs, billions have been caught at home since the end of March. We feel as if God is taking turns in punishing us for something we have not done.

I too have been hating COVID for all my travel plans has been ruined, I am on the verge of losing my job, I have gained weight, and I badly want to leave the four walls that I have been confined to for months. I would still say that COVID has changed the most in me, I am a completely different person, I got a time to self reflect, to work on the things I always loved, and to take care of my family which I think I forgot while I was chasing the sky.

1) My parents are growing old- This time I got a chance to stay with my parents for quite some time. When my office extended work for home in June I returned home for I knew this chance will never come back. This time I had a chance to look at their hidden medicine box, unmanned wrinkles, body aches, and all the pains that are accompanied by age. For the first time in my life, I hated the fact that they are growing old

2) I should start writing again- Since my school days, I have been a school magazine writer followed by a blogger. Once I settled in my corporate job, I found no time for my passion. Somehow I traded the reason that made me feel alive with my comfortable 9 to 5 job. So much alone time returned me to hold the pen again; this time solely for the thing that makes me happy. I promised myself to write at least one blog a week to keep myself going

3) Travel is life- Since I started working, I would only be stress-free when I had tickets in my hand. The travel ban this year has taken a toll on my mental health and as the ban on Himachal Pradesh relaxes, I will now head straight to Kasol (you know, just to relax!!!!!!)

By the way, I promised that from next year, am travelling a minimum of 4 times a year

4) Learn something I always wanted to- I always had this knack for photography but somehow I took terrible photos and didn't have time to invest in a course. This quarantine I found some time for my photography class and happily attended the class

5) Went on a long drive with my sister- We have always wanted to do this but as we stay in different cities, the limited time we meet had other priorities. In these 3 months of me back home, I had multiple long drives with her and we just could't be happier

6) Met my friends after 5 years- Everyone in our friend's group lives in different cities. We never had been lucky to be in the same city for 5 years, this time it was different

5) Jobs are temporary; Family is permanent- I have always been super ambitious thereby neglecting all family functions for the sake of work and now as the time becomes challenging, family stands strong by me

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