Life as we know it has come to a standstill. Despite the easing of lockdown regulations bringing some sense of normality back in our lives, nothing is the same any more. It’s a small price to pay in these times, even when it doesn’t seem like it. As the world and the global community, we are faced with a full-on pandemic, the likes of which has never been seen by our generation. Individually, we are faced with a new reality. It’s a new norm, new routines, a new life.

Life as we know it did not come to a standstill nor did it do a complete 180. We still wake up every day, the sun still rises and sets, the weather is still… interesting. Except, it does not feel that way. Nothing is right anymore. Even sleep does not feel the same anymore.

It’s hard to imagine a world where any of us had prepared to live life under the current circumstances. Every day is a challenge, it feels exactly like yesterday and looks just like tomorrow. Normal same old is the new different meanwhile, there is nothing new in different. It’s almost poetic.

The usual way of life came to a standstill. It was sudden. Everything changed, not all of it changed for the best. Routines that dictated our days fell apart. New ways of life had to be adopted. We had to change ourselves and let go of those little everyday things that make us who we are. The tiny distractions, daily accomplishments and little daily regulars, all gone faster than you can say ‘huh?’.

WE live in a new reality. None of us are taking it the same. Some people have embraced this new reality, others are just reacting. Generally, we are taking it a day at a time.

New challenges, new goals and new obstacles face us. The most popular being ‘fetching your body’. Exercise and fitness have become the next best thing. There has also been a sudden uprise of wannabe chefs. Social media has become the new hang out. Schools have migrated to online learning. It’s all very new. With everything happening as it is, we are clouded by confusion and the pressure of everyday life has become different. This new way of life is most taxing on our mental health. Students have reported feeling confused, lonely, anxious, depressed, restless, scared, imbalanced and out of character. Worst case being suicidal. Another concern is abuse, physical, mental, emotional or otherwise. Under the circumstances, many are trapped with their abusers. Every day is fear. It’s hard to concentrate when you’re learning from home. It’s one thing to shift your life to accommodate online classes, but it’s another when the people around also have things to do. Noise, food, being called all the time, chores, family, changed sleeping patterns, these are just some of the obstacles we have to overcome.  

I think it’s safe to assume that most of us have blindly fallen into an unusual pattern and are now just living in limbo. Wake up, get through the day, sleep, repeat. It is tedious but we’re coping. My fear though, is that with all these changes and having to let go of life as we know it, we are losing ourselves. Those everyday things that make us who we are, gone. Without them who are we? Will we ever get back to who we were?

I hope you’re doing well… Everybody needs you. You are important. You’re doing great. You haven’t completely lost yourself. We all need to hear that. You might not be doing as “great” as your peers, but you are doing you and that’s all that matters. You matter. Keeping a grip on reality and yourself is you doing well.

Some days are easier than others, but we are taking it a day at a time. Back to our regular programming. We are going to come out of this different to how we went into it. Now is this awkward transition from who we were to who we will be. We are learning things about ourselves, unlearning others and confronting some truths.

It is what it is.