Food for Thought 6 [COVID19 - Blessings in Life]

COVID19

Coronavirus

Novel Corona

There is an avalanche of news articles about this pandemic so I believe we don’t need another introduction. This outbreak has affected our daily lives as we know it. 

Suddenly, simple pleasure of taking a walk in the park could become a criminal offence, punishable with both fine and jail term. 

Governments around the world recommended us to observe social distancing and to stay at home as much as we can. #StayHome is a trending hashtag all over social media. There are ardent advocates for lockdown to prevent further spread of this infectious yet invisible nemesis. Healthcare professionals stay at work for us so we have to stay home for them.

Of course, we follow those advices to a T - closed our office, paid salaries to our employees and settled down to confining ourselves at home as much as possible. No panic buying though. We did our usual weekly grocery run and relied on food delivery services. There were entertainment programs and exercise scheduled to keep us occupied.  Roads in previously bustling metropolis have become hauntingly empty, which allowed for stress free commute when we had to venture out to run essential errands. We were being dutiful and responsible citizens to our community. In the comfort of our air-conditioned room.

Then, I saw two photos on social media. 

First was depicting a father and son pair where the flower seller dad was putting on face mask for his child, while not wearing one himself.
[Just to give you context, there are flower sellers at busy traffic junctions in Yangon, Myanmar.]

Second was of an elderly ice-cream seller with his still full container.

Many thoughts rushed into my head.

Without much vehicle traffic, how much flowers could he sell? 

Without much foot traffic, how many ice-cream cones could he sell?

With the infectious nature of current global pandemic, who would willingly eat roadside ice cream?

They just could not afford to stay home.

Forget about 14 day isolation at home.

Their priority is how to put food on their table at the end of the day.

Coronavirus is a distant enemy compared to impending hunger. 

Their day to day survival is at risk.

Yes, there will be global recession.

Yes, our business will be affected too.

But we still have food on our table. There is a roof over our head. Home isolation for us means we are able to read books, exercise, bond with our family, meditate - basically take a break from our hectic lifestyle. 

But that same thing translates to loss of livelihoods for daily wage earners.

What is the difference between us and them?

I didn’t really give much thought to what I have - I have quite a comfortable life but I work hard for it, right? But that’s not all, was it? It was also due to my birth circumstances. The fact that I was born to my parents allowed me education and opportunities which were not available to those daily wage earners.  What if I was born to roadside flower seller parents? It was an awakening enlightenment. Also a humbling thought that I have many blessings in life to be grateful for, including a simple existence such as ability to stay home without having to worry about basic necessities.  

Nonetheless it brings about a suffocating notion on how much we still have to help the less fortunate as a community. Yet, at the same time, I do feel thankful for the resources available to let me help others. 

And thank you for letting me vent. 

Adios!

xoxo

Miss N