Life during Pandemic!

First of all, a BIG THANK YOU to each one of you who read my first post and encouraged me in continuing my passion for writing! :-)

When the work and efforts are rightfully acknowledged, it just doesn't give you that "contentment" but the exhilaration in itself is a big reward!

Big enough to continue to work with all the more vigor, with all the more efforts and with all the more passion!

Now back to the topic on which I'd like to share my thoughts.

A topic very sensitive, considering the "facts & figures" attached to it!

A topic that has changed the lives of every living being on this planet!

A topic that has made us question our very intent of self worth!

2020!

A year that started like any other year!

Lots of "new year resolutions" which are seldom met!

Lot of dreams to fulfil for which we strive to work with best of our potential!

Lot of memories to make so that we can cherish it for years to come!

Lot of planned travel iteneraries, although quite a few do not transition from planning to implementation phase!

Nevertheless, what I mean to say is, we had "plans" for this year and like every other year, we knew not all will become true but we wanted to give it a shot, anyway!

That's how we are! We want to try!

The outcome is secondary.. the effort matters... the attempt matters... the zeal matters!

But 2020 had an all new plan for ALL OF US!

Like you all, I too had plans for the new year!

Here's a little something about me...

My name is Khushaboo Shandilya.

I'm from India. Born and raised in the City of Dreams - Mumbai.

I am an IT Professional and when you are in IT, travel is basically "part of the deal".

So, as part of the deal, I had to move my "nest" to Germany since October last year.

That was a tough decision! Moving away from your family is way harder than it sounds!

But, for a better future, one has to deal with the struggles and hardships.

With that goal in mind, I began my New Life, here in Germany.

I will share my transition, adjustments, learnings of staying alone on a Foreign Land in a separate post..

To summarize, I was finally able to live with the right amount of positivity, strength and passion when 2020 arrived!

And I had already made plans for the new year!

A lot of them!

Speaking in IT terms, some immediate short terms milestones were achieved!

But when 2020 gave the BIG SHOCK to the entire world, the future of all the next set of short term milestones as well as long term plans went in jeopardy!

Corona came and it came to stay!

It changed our lives, changed our way of living our lives, changed our outlook towards our lives!

We all are hit by the virus. Intensity may vary but we are all affected by it!

Millions infected, many thousands lost their lives to this infection.

It's a DARK era for all of us, but we are in this, and we are in this TOGETHER!

What choice do we have!

To fight the virus and come out strong is not one of the options; it is the ONLY option!

When Life gives you 2020, You DEAL with it!

DEAL with it to WIN!

DEAL with it to come out a better person!

DEAL with it to be more empathetic towards one another!

DEAL with it as ONE!

Each Nation is striving to fight the virus, to find a vaccine, to protect its people.

We need to do our bit!

This is the time you stay united and stay strong!

Each one of us is abiding to our government's safety regulations and that's the least we can do as responsible citizens!

I'm not going to urge you all to follow the safety precautions and maintain social distancing!

Because, I know each one of us is doing that!

One thing this virus has made me believe is the fact that the power of Humanity is way more than we can imagine!

It extends beyond borders and religions!

I've seen so many instances of people selflessly helping and doing whatever they can to help those in need!

When Hope is threatened, Humanity comes to the Rescue!

These are difficult times, nobody thought a time would come when the Whole World will literally come to a STANDSTILL!

But, that's the situation of the World right now!

There's no running away from reality!

We need to face the situation, fight it and come out of it as a Winner! There's no other alternative!

So, let's do what we can!

Stay at Home if that's what you can do to contribute towards curbing the infection.

I'm working from Home Office since late March!

Trust me, this confinement to one room with a Laptop, tests your sense of sanity!

But, Desperate times calls for Desperate measures!

I understand we cannot travel anymore.

I understand we cannot shop anymore.

I understand we cannot party anymore.

But, if these temporary restrictions can give us our old free lives back, we have to adhere to it!

There's always light at the end of the tunnel.

What's Life without Hope!

Hope is what keeps us going.

So, let's keep hoping, keep doing the right thing!

2020 has started with a Nightmare, but Nightmares end when the Sun shines and this Sun of Hope, Efforts, Unity will Shine!

I want to thank each one of you for being patient in these adverse times, for being responsible, for being vigilant and finally, for being humane.

Finally, a big shout out to all our Frontline Super Heroes!

I always thought super heroes only existed in stories, until now!

What you all are doing is beyond imagination!

THANK YOU is all I have!