Twenty Twenty One

Attempt #16… Gone are the days when I could just sit down and write. You'd probably say I need to get more organized and plan better, but writing can't be planned—at least not for me. I write when my mind is relaxed, and right now, I've got four hamsters high on energy, working that wheel.

The 2020 pandemic reorganized the world in a matter of months, and now we're living the "New Normal." It's been a year, and we've successfully adapted. A lot of things that seemed impossible overnight became possible: 100% work from home in certain sectors, the "need" for maids, 90%+ online payments, the need to wear pants every day or shave regularly—the list goes on.

We're fettered by tradition and 'tried and tested' ideologies. We rarely challenge and push boundaries. They say when push comes to shove, we discover potential.

Most people get too comfortable, both professionally and personally, and are afraid to rock the boat. I ask, why not? But if you're going to, then you better know how to swim.

Personally, it has been a rewarding experience getting to see my daughter grow. The simplicity with which she looks at life makes me appreciate what I have so much more. Just the other day, the delivery agent came with a box of Pampers, and she squealed in delight and thanked me profusely, as if I had given her the world on a diamond-encrusted platinum platter.

As kids, we appreciate the simplicity of life, but as we grow, most of us lose that innocence and fall prey to the materialistic world. We then define success and "happiness" by the number of international stamps on our passport and the wealth we possess. Society reinforces this delusion through advertising.

2020 changed all of that to some extent. There was a ban on travel and entertainment. Most places did not allow maids to enter gated communities. People had to adapt quickly, and most were able to transition smoothly. Some people learned new crafts, and some caught up on all the sleep they missed in previous years. I, for one, learned new ways of annoying my wife and the art of hiding in plain sight.

This pandemic has eviscerated the lives of many families. People curse the virus, the government, the situation they're in. However, when you think about how it has survived so long and continues to run amok, it's due to our inability to follow rules. We continue to push boundaries and fail to be responsible. Will we ever be able to all follow rules? The answer is a bitter pill to swallow.

I look at this period as an opportunity for us to make the best of what we have. We may not be able to change a lot, but we can change the way we see the world.