Early in 2020 as news of the Covid Pandemic hit the headlines around the world, many people thought it was merely a hiccough in the evolution of "normal" every-day life. How often people said the words, "won't it be good to get back to normal?" This was most certainly said here in Australia.
It soon became obvious that this was not to be the case, as the world and we as individuals had to learn to cope with increasing stresses and anxiety. Those who had lived through the years of the Second World War, as well as the following decades, in the main, settled down to following daily reports relevant to their own cities and countries health situations; taking note of scientific and epidemiology advice and following instructions on how to look after themselves and their families, neithbours and friends, by following the restrictions and rules laid down by the health authorities of that jurisdiction. We learned to regularly wash and sanitise hands, to keep physical distance from everyone else, and to wear masks.Vaccinations were then trialed and marketed.
Vaccination clinics and hubs opened; and people queued to receive their first and second vaccinations. Now there is the suggestion that especially vulnerable people (the disabled, the aging and frail, and those with multiple health issues) should prepare and book for a booster.
So matters of every-day living prior to the arrival of Covid became almost a memory. Things we took for granted - going to the cinema; going shopping for retail thereapy; meeting with family and friends; going for a picnic; dancing; concerts, stage shows, attending weddings; celebrating christenings; visiting older people in aged care; visiting family and friends in hospital; having elective surgery, going out to a meal as often as we could (or that we could afford!), suddenly ceased and we have been left bewildered.
Children have not been able to attend school; families have been unable to visit loved ones. Curfews stopped a lot of population movement, and city residents were unable to visit other regional and interstate areas, so travelling came to a standstill.
While there was, and remains, an element of people who have become angry about all these changes, there are others who have expressed their care and kindness in myriads of ways. Family members initiating schedules to ensure at least one member speaks on the tephone to a loved one at least once every day. (On the other hand, many lonely people in our society never hear from their families at any time.) Small groups of volunteers deliverying food and essential goods; people buying extra in their weekly supermarket shop - (not to store in the cupboard, but to literally give to their neighbours!). Church services made available online. Drs and Specialists providing telephone consultations.
Agencies manned by volunteers working from home, telephoning lonely people just to make sure they're OK.
These kindnesses continued during and between the Lockdowns (we've just come out of our sixth) showing that the changes to life-style wrought by the Pandemic has brought out the best (and in some cases) the worst of human behaviour.
YET ........ hasn't it always been the case throughout history? That life-style is not a happy story-book all the time. There are difficulties, there are challenges, there are hurdles to jump or to climb around; there are problems, there are natural disasters; there are tragedies told and untold. Wars, and pandemics. Poverty and starvation. Homelessness and Statelessness.
Humankind is resilient, for it has been created so.
And the history books and the memories
of generations of families confirm that this is so.
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