LIFE IN RETROSPECT :2020, A CASE STUDY

LIFE IN RETROSPECT : 2020, A CASE STUDY

These are strange times, hard times, strange scenes, new ways of living ; a new life, a changed world. We are experiencing sudden changes to how things are done. Our routines have seen drastic changes and modifications. Our lives have been affected ; positively and otherwise.

In times past, no one really cared so to say about what things like social distancing, flu, hygiene or a good health care system could translate to if not well managed and taken care of until the pandemic came. We were so oblivious to the luxury of being outside, free and mobile that we got the biggest shock of our lives when we were told to stay at home to curtail the spread of the virus. We were never prepared, we never saw it coming, we never imagined such a reality. A new reality as challenging as it is.

Retrospectively, mental health was something we paid lip-service to and gave little or no consideration and thought. But when we had to stay away from our lives, jobs, loved ones and usual routines, we all realised the importance of our mental well-being. The new reality of being stuck at home doing nothing, stranded in other countries and cities, delayed in unwanted locations away from our comfort zones ignited our interest in our mental wellness especially trying to remain sane in a rather insanely world.

Friends, colleagues, neighbours, families and relations never knew the importance of being together physically at all times until it became risky, unsafe and skeptical to meet up with one another. The true joy of physical interactions was so undermined in the past that it took a sudden and drastic change for us to appreciate our physical interactions and interactors. Mutual and cordial rapports and relationships have been redefined as a result of the several happenings that rocked the world.

Racism, corruption, terrorism, bad governance, religious bigotry among several other vices and anomalies took new turns and were present and showcased shamelessly during the course of the year. The world became a fearful, hateful, sick and degrading place to live in. The fun of living and being alive that was hitherto taking for granted by a lot of people became one of the most important elements of our existence.

Retrospectively, our lives were complicated, intricately-placed and full of problems but we still managed to pull through against the odds. We sailed our ships through storms and planted our seeds despite droughts : we always found a way to live life. The unexpected occurrences that struck during the year were so severe that a lot of people forgot how to live. It became stressful, demoralising, tiring, tasking and unbearable to be human and be alive.

Things changed, so many things fell apart, people changed, the world became a frightening place to be. How well we've coped with these changes as sudden as they were haved showed truly our resolves, fighting spirit, level of perseverance and doggedness.

Quadri AbdulQudus Omobolaji. Lagos, Nigeria.