6 Ways to Conquer Covid-19 Fears Now You Can Go Out
The new term is approaching, which is a cause for excitement and slight trepidation. Both are natural feelings, but this new term will be different. Are you afraid to go out? Don't worry, as it's all in the mind.
Children's books should have taught you that fear comes in different forms. For instance, Roald Dahl recalled writing letters in St. Peter's Prep School. The Headmaster peered over his shoulders while he wrote short letters to his mother, ensuring that he wouldn't mention any instances of unpleasantness or probable maltreatment. Perhaps the Headmaster's intimidating presence was the author's inspiration for heartless villains like Miss Trunchbull (of "Matilda"), which you hardly relate at all. Your tutor never got tired of you asking about the importance of tearing down certain monuments after the killing of George Floyd. Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and so many black Americans. Statues vs. systemic change, an interesting, if not eye-opening, essay that can lead to a disagreement between you and your course mates. After all, statues, not symbols, were the first to fall weeks after the tragic death of George Floyd. You're about to look forward to remote learning, again, but the easing of restrictions raises many questions.
Does the influx of young people lead to a spike in coronavirus cases? The question refers to UMass Amherst reopening plan to bring 15,000 students to college dorms and nearby apartment complexes. Many states will keep a close eye on this one, as this plan presents a major risk. Furthermore, there are common and previously insignificant situations that will carry new prospects of danger. A (college) student sniffs in a hall. A professor's throat is sore. A tutor's spouse feels sick. The State Department might have released a 19-page plan for students, staffers, and parents who may (or may not) have the symptoms, but it would be a complicated and challenging term. If you happen to be an Asian-American (college) student, you should have been confronted with anti-Asian sentiment fueled by the coronavirus pandemic. (If you're not, you might be reading a book that would uplift you, if not keep up with the Joneses. The latter has something to do with Netflix.) There have been so many happenings, that you may forget that the 16th of July is a remarkable date. (Congress declared Washington. D.C. as the capital of the United States of America on July 16, 1790. "Catcher in the Rye" was published on July 16, 1951. Amazon opened for business on July 16, 1995.) It's OK, as recent events would prompt most Americans to wonder if racism is a public health crisis. Agree?
Great Escape: What I Have Learned from the Lockdown
Disaster brings out the best in teenagers. Teenagers don't like to do what they are told. They rather forge their own path. And they can be cynical or anxious. If this is the 1940s, most teenagers would march off to war. The pandemic brings uncertainty, which enables them to face the future with clear eyes, if not hope. If you refuse to let the recession dim your chances of a good career and fine life, then you're not the only one. Don't be surprised if you show off your unguarded affection to a student from another department (and whom you hardly know). Your grandparents will be proud of you.
Long walks will give you access to the past. It may not be better not to take a long walk in Central Park if you happen to be a New Yorker, but you don't need a public park to take a walk. The coronavirus pandemic caused unignorable sadness to many people while health workers are too exhausted to take notice of their surroundings. You don't have any responsibility at the moment, and summer beckons you to go out. You will be reminded of your pre-lockdown life, of your summer plans that need to be rescheduled for next year, and what you have taken for granted. You weren't interested in "Middlemarch", which your professor noticed (while reading your essay). You may be perceived as aloof while chatting with other students. And you're slightly annoyed at your parents' missed calls. (You might be procrastinating or you're spending lots of time on group chats.) You should have read a good book this season. (If you haven't opened a book, then look for a classic.) Practice patience. And you can do the (household) chores.
You become aware of how lucky you are. You look up to the sky, and you notice the absence of an airplane. You might count yourself lucky for not working in the aviation industry, where the chances are high of getting infected in the departure area. You're also lucky for not being one of the millions in the tourism industry. And you might have a fear of flying. You may feel good after you think of those social media influencers whose traveling has been curtailed. And you have more time to prepare for your first trip. It might be unfair to not include Beijing and Shanghai in your shortlist, but you can change your mind next year (or the year after next). The return to pre-pandemic time will be slow, but it should make you appreciate the virtues of traveling. It requires spending more, which won't appeal to the practical ones, but there's no other way to expand your horizon and look for a perspective. Not that your favorite authors can help you on this one, but you can plan your first visit to Grand Canyon (or Hollywood).
Inequalities are glaring, but you're living in a bubble. You're spared of sleepless nights, where you don't have to budget what remains of your salary. And you don"t have to thank the gods of sleeping pills (or serotonin) if you have problems with getting an early sleep. Zoom may not be an ideal set-up for learning, but you only have to worry about becoming attentive to recorded lectures and beating the deadlines in the comfort of your room. There are many distractions including repeated orders from your parents. (You promised to do a particular chore, but you haven"t done it a week after your mother told you.) And books have been your source of the great escape. Credit to dumb luck. (If you're a final-year student, then keep your fingers crossed. It might be back to normal after graduation.)
You're living in a different reality. You're not one of those quarantined individuals who discover the joy of meditating. You're the least interested in urban farming. And you cringe at the thought of having yourself videoed while singing (and posting it on social media). You got up late after watching several episodes of a Netflix show, if not read novels that were adapted to the big screen. And there are moments when you stare in front of the computer screen. You're not meandering the Internet, but it's a morning habit. August is around the corner, but you haven't changed your routine. There's no need to worry about it. Perhaps an e-mail from your tutor, if not your course mate, should give you the jolt that you need.
Don't be a perfectionist. The pandemic will suck the energy out of anyone, so it's important to conserve your energy. Be kind to yourself. Judge less. And don't try too hard to do it all during the summer.
Now is All
It's hard to ignore the drama that you see on TV (or videos posted on YouTube) and there will be instances of what-ifs. Follow the protocol on safety. Don't spend long hours outside your home. And make sure that your air-conditioner is ventilated. (If you're using a fan, then save it for night time.) Positive thinking is a matter of practice, so it will take a while. But don't worry.
