Lockdowns are easing out everywhere and only the RED ZONES or WORST HIT areas continue to be crippled throughout the country. But the first two things that hit my mind was the proverb ‘FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT’ and the other being the word ‘DESENSITISATION’. The IRONY is that both of these have CONTRADICTORY results when compared to their general usage. I say this as the FAMILIARITY with the CORONAVIRUS is breeding contempt in people to such an extent that they are getting DESENSITISED and forgetting that we’re still in DIRE STRAITS!
The first thing I need everyone to understand is that WE ARE NOT OUT OF DANGER YET! WAKE UP, PEOPLE! We are actually in the most IMPORTANT and CRUCIAL PHASE which WARRANTS us to cultivate, integrate and incorporate SELF-DISCIPLINE! I cross my heart and promise that I’m not trying to cause panic whilst at the same time reminding you all that this isn’t a situation where IGNORANCE IS BLISS! The only BLISS that IGNORANCE can lead to is...PERMANENT bliss.
I emphasise so much on this aspect as there are four stages before we reach the POINT OF NO RETURN. I remember them as the four Cs.
The first stage being — CASE: A HANDFUL of cases affected all over the country. The second stage — CLUSTER: The increase in the HANDFUL(s) in different parts. The THIRD stage (WE ARE PRESENTLY HERE!) — COMMUNITY: The increase in CLUSTERS due to rapid transmission of the virus affecting large areas or zones. Fourth — COUNTRY: as per the name, the increase in COMMUNITY transmission to a level, wherein, most parts of the country is affected and CONTAINMENT becomes practically IMPOSSIBLE.
Please read the above a couple of times, register it in your minds and understand the seriousness. Factually speaking, there is a much more rampant level of transmission taking place when compared to the initial days of entering into lockdown. Simply because the lockdown is being eased doesn’t mean everything is hunky-dory. I see people roaming around like how they would do in the PRE-COVID ERA!
Here’s my ABCDE for all of you to ensure that you’re SAFE rather than SORRY later...
A: ACCEPT that this is the new NORMAL and mentally prepare yourself to lead your life like this every day until the situation improves.
B: BEWARE of people around you who aren’t following point A. It’s better to be PARANOID and SAFE rather than IGNORANT and SORRY.
C: CLEANLINESS is next to GODLINESS, but also your LIFE SAVER! I’m not talking about just sanitising your hands and protecting your face. I’m talking about taking more stringent precautions like keeping a concentrated soapy solution outside your home and spraying your footwear, clothes and even items that you have carried or bought...
D: DISPOSE of masks and other stuff carefully and safely. NEVER TRY TO REUSE what isn’t meant to be.
E: EXERCISE! But SAFELY! The last but the most important aspect of life today. The COLLECTIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL environment around us is badly shaken. We really need to VENT OUT to not only stay balanced but remain calm and hopeful for the future ahead.
With Regards,
Adarsh Benakappa Basavaraj
‘The Coach’
