Now that an entire year has passed that we’ve been dealing with a global pandemic, (and let’s be honest, a lot of global panic too), it seems appropriate to take a minute to reflect on the past year and everything that’s happened. Needlessly to say, it’s been a roller coaster of a year, with a whirlwind of emotions and adjustments for all of us. We’ve gone through multiple stages of lockdowns and quarantines, had to adjust to a lot of constant changes very quickly and had endless exchanges of “unprecedented times” and reassuring each other “ca va bien aller”!
It’s strange to look back and see that an entire year of this new “normal” has gone by. Last March, we were just starting to hear about the threat of coronavirus; and even then, we thought things would be normal again after a few weeks. Isn’t it strange to look back and realize we initially didn’t even wear masks when we went out? Now I can’t even fathom leaving my house without a mask! March 2020 and up until now, has been a challenging time for all of us. It seems every few weeks there’s something new to worry about or adjust to, be it a new variant strain or new lockdown measures.
But this post isn’t to reflect on all the bad that has occurred this past year. Not that we’re ignoring all that’s occurred, we’re simply… having a different discussion right now. And that is a discussion of hope, optimism, and moving forward. We don’t know how long this pandemic will remain with us, or what we’ll be hit with next. Even with vaccine procurement happening, we know that rollouts have been slow and we are likely going to have to remain cautious and distanced for most of this year as well. But over a year into this “new normal” at least we are better mentally prepared to expect the unexpected, and aware that we might be indoors and socially distanced for still some time to come.
As many of us continue working from home, or overall are spending a lot more time at home since things are in lockdown and we can’t socialize or go out the way we used to, we’ve all had to adjust to our home lives in new and different ways. Whether it’s finding new ways to stay occupied, or balancing personal vs professional roles, setting boundaries, and finding new coping mechanisms for our mental health. Mental health has especially been an important conversation and on-going priority this past year for many of us, as living through a global pandemic is taxing on our mental health in numerous ways. It’s important to find healthy and various ways to cope, and sometimes, it’s the smallest things that can help us get through our day.
So here’s to the little things in life, the small joys, the little bits that keep us going. Whether it’s that perfect cup of hot chai, or the quiet stillness of an early morning, an evening walk to help unwind, or relaxing with a book or tv show at the end of a long day; we all have the little parts of our day that help keep us going.
Personally, I was actually missing buying overpriced lattes from local coffee shops that I used to get on my way to work, and feeling tired of having bleak instant coffee, so I finally got a French press (thanks to a lovely friend) and invested in some delicious coffee from a local shop at Jean Talon market. And once I made that switch? Wow! My mornings were transformed. I always woke up looking forward to making a cup of delicious, REAL, coffee. It was a pretty small thing but it truly made working from home a lot more enjoyable for me. I enjoyed the longer ritual of making coffee every morning and the taste was just so much better and more comforting.
Here at SAWCC our team has been missing our vibrant centre life dearly! Engaging with coworkers and clients alike was a fundamental part of life at the centre, as we believe in the values of building community and sisterhood; which is a little bit trickier when we can’t be together in person! But nonetheless, restrictions aside, we’ve had a long year of adjusting, adapting, and working harder than ever to provide our services-users with the best possible services, and supporting each other as a team, as we continue our work virtually.
I asked my lovely team members to share with me what their year was like, in a creative way: I asked that they submit one photo that captured the essence of what their year was like OR something that helped them cope with these difficult times and brought them joy. Check out our compilation and their thoughts below!
Until next time,
Kiran
This is me during the lockdown-hanging in- and believing that we are almost there; as I feel stronger than I was; because the world is beautiful than I remember!
There is something about this lockdown that just feels harder than all the others. The days are melting into each other, time is expanding and contracting of its own accord, weekends are indistinguishable from weekdays, and our emotions are flipping between excruciating boredom and existential dread. The problem with this lockdown is that there is no fixed end-date. Rumours are swirling on social media, but no one seems to be able to tell us if we will be stuck at home for weeks or months to come. That makes it feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. And the lack of light is harming us in other ways, too. Yes, we are creeping towards lighter days – but progress is slow.
Personally, during this lockdown I will admit that I was having difficulty in finding a balance between periods of sleeplessness and deprived of energy, and this shouldn’t be underestimated in relation to emotional wellbeing. Sleep is critical to our mindset and mood, thus I made it my priority to address it, as it will impact all other areas of my everyday life during this lockdown. Getting into a routine, even if I have nothing to get up for. Exercising daily and this doesn’t mean running a 10k every day. I know we are all feeling like we can’t do another walk around the block, so I tried something different and i.e. I started dancing on my favourite music in my kitchen while cooking; during cleaning my home; and even responding to my children’s question through my dance moves. Using energy creates energy, and this increases my motivation too.
Focusing on what I was eating, helped me to take stock of what I am eating and also helped me to cut the crap that I was eating abundantly during this lockdown. It’s not about counting calories, it’s loving yourself enough to give your body healthy foods. Setting some goals for myself also helps me to be present in my immediate right now. By doing this and achieving steps along the way, have given me a purpose and sense of achievement when I tick something off on my list to do.
Diverting my attention onto others helps me to go beyond my own immediate right now. This is not to say one should ignore any real lingering difficult thoughts one can have, but helping others is a win-win situation, as in the end both end up feeling better.
During this pandemic, I am very grateful that I have had my little furry baby to keep me company. My cat, Mika, is very cuddly and lazy, so we have had lazy cuddle time throughout the whole lockdown. We watch TV together and sometimes Mika will sit with me during zoom meetings. I’ve never felt lonely despite being quarantined for so long.
Covid has brought new challenges for everyone and affected the entire world. I heard stories of flu pandemic (Spanish Flu) from my grandfather, Abba. He was just a child when it hit the world and because he lived in the British India and the Great Britain was one of the countries impacted by it, he knew and remembered the times well. I remembered the stories told me by my Abba when the Covid-19 hit us. We are living through times that my grandparents experienced. This time around, the flu like the news has spread fast and in every corner of the world because our world has become much smaller.
Like many other work places, our SAWCC had to close down and we had to find ways like many others to continue our work of giving services to our service remotely. Like many other people the process of adjusting with a new routine, a new workspace and a new method of working was a challenge for me but I am glad and proud that I am able to handle this challenge and have found ways to take care of my service users and myself. Many factors have given me strength and joy to be able to carry on. Since I have to think of a “thing” and not a person, my mind keeps on focusing on my phone. In my opinion, cell phones are both a distraction and a necessity, but during the Covid times, my cell phone has become a blessing for me. I think I have survived depression during these lockdowns and isolation because of my phone. It has kept me connected with everyone I love and need. It has provided me with means to stay in touch with my service users. Every day that I am working, I am thankful that I have been able to be helpful to others. In the evenings when my workday ends and the isolation actually starts hitting me, my phone becomes a source of entertainment and learning for me. I cannot imagine living through this phase of my life without my connection to my outer world.
I have tried planting avocado seeds over and over again, but as you may know, the climate is not good for growing avocados in Canada. Eventually, after eight unsuccessful attempts, I was able to see the beautiful green leaves that now inspire hope in me. They remind me that originality, life and nature always prevail even when it seems weak. I am inspired to continue to serve better, and to remain faithful to my goals during these tough and unusual days.
The Covid -19 Pandemic had a major effect but also brought some positivity in our lives. As I was facing challenges dealing with our service users, I felt stressed and overwhelmed. But as I connected with some community organizations through social media, I was able to donate some food and oxygen cylinders for Covid patients overseas. And so, my stress and anxiety became my strength. I have tried to make a balance in between everyday life and the real situation. To unwind, I went out in the neighbourhood and saw a beautiful tree full of fruits; mother nature is beautiful. I have been praying for all global citizens safety, security, and well-being.