Issue No. 1/2020 — A Letter to the Human Spirit
It’s no secret that the start of 2020 has been scary, uncertain, and tragic. The passing of Kobe Bryant in the helicopter crash was already a devastating blow to basketball fans everywhere. Now with the Covid-19 outbreak and the worsening of the economy, the future looks bleak and unpredictable for individuals and businesses.
My heart goes out to the elderly, the people infected, and the relatives of family members who had passed on as a result of this outbreak—especially in parts of the world that are severely affected. It's also disheartening to hear companies and small businesses scrambling to make ends meet and employees receiving pay cuts or losing their jobs.
Plus, on top of our personal worries and struggles, it might not be easy for some of us to make sacrifices and lifestyle changes by socially distancing ourselves from our friends and loved ones, cancelling travel plans, and washing our hands on a regular basis. Nevertheless, it’s better to have a shared social burden where we can manage the outbreak than having to see a vulnerable group of people suffering.
In times like these, there’s only one word that comes to mind: hope.
Self-compassion
First and foremost, take care of yourself. Whenever we are in moments of distress or shock, we become anxious, fearful, and defensive. From there, it is easy for us to bottle up our emotions or try to fight them back by over-rationalizing, which can become a never-ending downward spiral.
But if our emotions and senses are telling us something, maybe we should be brave and listen to them. They are there to protect us, after all. If we take the time to understand them, be it our mental, emotional, or physical state, maybe then we can navigate through this chaotic period with a clear mind.
So make some time for yourself and your well-being. Whether that’s meditating, listening to music, exercising, or reaching out to a loved one, take care of your troubled heart first. From there, we will be in a better position to expand our care to others.
Expanding our circle of care
Sure, some of us have heard the stories of people stockpiling toilet paper or fighting over it in a supermarket. But that’s just one side of the whole picture. Throughout this entire fiasco, there are also acts of heroism, which are often not as loud or sensational as the negative headlines.
There are thousands of doctors, nurses, health professionals, and cleaners working hard and risking their lives on our behalf. In Siena and Naples, people were singing together from their balconies to lift the community’s spirits. Here in Singapore, we hear of a couple who unselfishly gave out 17,000 free masks to the public to combat the wave of panic buying. What’s more, nowadays, thanks to digital technology and social media, we can easily communicate and reach out to people who need help.
Even though we are physically distancing ourselves, it does not mean we cannot be innovative, leverage technology, and still form meaningful relationships. In times of crisis, history tells us that it's best to stand together.
“Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except for one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.” — Victor Frankl, author of Man's Search for Meaning
Reality sucks, but we can choose how we respond
It's hard to think of positive things right now, but I want to give a different perspective on things since most of the news we are hearing makes us anxious. Reality sucks, but we can choose how we respond to it and act courageously.
No one truly knows how long the Covid-19 outbreak will last. However, this is not the first time that society has faced a major crisis—think the Asian Financial Crisis, SARs, and September 11.
We have faced many adversities before, and we will overcome them again. How we respond right now will determine where we will be in the future.
About the author: Darius Tay is a photographer/visual storyteller who loves capturing meaningful moments and uses photography to tell stories and find beauty in everyday life. If you would like to leave a comment or engage him, feel free to email him at dariustay5@gmail.com.
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