Holding On To Hope In A Post-Corona World
By Rolene Marks
I believe. I believe that even though all seems dark and uncertain at the moment, we will get through it. I believe that even though things may look different when this is over, we will heal. I believe that when we emerge from the dark, the light will be that much brighter. I believe as many face an uncertain future, we will support them. I believe that as we rise to the challenges, we will overcome them. I believe we will learn to appreciate each other a lot more than we have in the past. I believe we will be grateful for what we have. I believe we will rebuild. I believe we will be triumphant.
I believe we will do all of this, together.
These are my beliefs, my hopes that when we finally emerge from the global crisis that there will be a shift in most of us, that having endured an experience that we could not have imagined just months ago, we will start the recovery process together – just as we have joined to fight the global Covid-19 pandemic.
One of the jokes doing the rounds on the social network app – WhatsApp – is that it seems as if Mother Earth has sent us to our rooms to think about what we have done. The idea is to take this time to think about the kind of people we would like to be and the way that we have treated our planet. I would not dare to challenge Greta Thunberg at this point, but it is certainly food for thought as reports come in about cleaner air over China, fauna returning to places that they have fled because of human encroachment and cleaner waters. It looks like the planet is taking some time to heal herself.
Many terror and militia organisations have laid down their arms (well, except for Hamas, which never pass up an opportunity to terrify as they showed by launching a rocket from the Gaza strip into Israel) and the UN Security Council, in a rare sharing of praise, lauded Israelis and Palestinians for their “excellent cooperation” in helping each other fight the threat posed by the virus.
While these are the positives, there are also many concerns – self-isolation, the ever present news cycle and frightening statistics.
Many of us are feeling frightened and fearful – the future seems so uncertain and we don’t know when we will emerge from this new normal, this global shutdown as humanity unites to face off against a ruthless enemy – Covid 19.
It is my hope that we will emerge from this crisis with a renewed perspective about what is important. Perhaps we will have renewed appreciation for our loved ones, especially our parents and grandparents. We have just been reminded of their vulnerability and for many, their frailty. They are not expendable.
We have been reminded that when faced with a common enemy it is possible to put aside differences and focus on our shared humanity. While I don’t think we will emerge from this and then sing kumbaya and braid each other’s hair, I do hope that having survived a global pandemic, we will be able to be a lot more empathetic to the other. Wishful thinking perhaps, but a girl can dream, can’t she?
I am hoping that we will come out of this better people. That the sanctity of life will be revered, that the worshipping of vacuous celebrity and influencers competing for likes on social media will be replaced by the respect and appreciation for all of those called to duty – whether it is leadership, saving lives, or just providing a service. We have learnt that superheroes may not always wear capes, but they do wear masks and protective gear, they work tirelessly often at great risk to their own health and safety.
It is my hope that we will emerge from this having learnt how to be a little kinder to ourselves. I hope we learn to appreciate the mundane details of our lives that we once took for granted – a cup of coffee with our friends, our creativity and our ability to look within.
I am not sure what kind of a world we will re-emerge into, but I hope that we will do this together, that the energy that we have spent on the fight will be the same, if not more, spent on the recovery. I am not sure what we will inherit but I do know that hope springs eternal.
I am not sure what the world will look like when we start the recovery process. I do think that one of the enduring lessons of the corona crisis will be how precious life is and how we can never take for granted the simple things. Perhaps the world will look a little brighter. I do know that I am looking forward to holding those I love tighter, that even though I know what my whole neighbourhood looks like relaxing on their balconies in their pajamas, I will judge less.
I do know that we will certainly embrace life – this time with cleaner hands.
