Forced

Random thoughts beginning….

I realise that what this quarantine has forced us to do is to recognize once again what is truly valuable in life – family. Initially, we were forced into it – forced to stay at home, forced to eat meals with family, forced to talk to each other. But as the days and weeks progress, we realise that we have been neglecting this core activity. We have been so engrossed in a routine of work and busyness that family time has taken a back seat. It occupied the leftovers in the schedule we so try to squeeze.

These moments of being with my family welded the recognition that, when we remove all the extras and unnecessary activities, and we extract it to what’s truly important we will be left with our family – caring for children, spending time with your husband, talking to your mother or father, bonding with your siblings. It feels luxurious. It feels like something only rich people could afford. But then I realise that even those people struggle to have these moments – even more so than middle income family.

Feeling luxurious for a time well spent with the family is a misguided mindset. It should be replaced with a feeling of necessity and fulfillment.

While I feel grateful for this time, I can also imagine how this became an issue for others. Stripped of the outside world, there are those who have no escape but to recognize the problems at home, the cracks they have always tried to hide, sense those silent treatments and empty looks. It magnified the small issues and reminded them daily of the pain. It is pain that has depth and can’t be left alone. And for some brave souls, they faced it and let it out in the open. They had to face days of more pain and sufferings but they also started to sense some healing. The quarantine might end without them fully recovering but it is on it’s way there. They had made the hardest decision of recognising the elephant in the room – now, it’s just figuring out how to move it out. It’ll be tough, but it’ll be worth it.

From my heart to yours, may your quarantine days be bearable and even joyous.

Random thoughts ending.