Everything changed

Before the pandemic

Our lifestyle

We were all live a carefree, wonderful, and happy life.

We work day and night to earn more money for our family, the word rest does not exist in our work diary.

We served and substitute fast food to our family for healthy home cooking just because we are busy.

Our Home

We are happy to welcome our guests whenever they came for a visit. 

We visited our elderly parents whenever we want, and enjoyed the family moment.

Weekend family gatherings are the time to promote family closeness and a sense of togetherness.

Our Children

We teach our children to wash their hands before food. 

Schools filled with school children, joy and laughter echo along school’s corridors.

Our children spend their time mostly with technology gadgets because we have no time for them.

Homeschooling only adopts by a minority group who are confident of its efficacy. 

Health

We have no worries when we are having symptoms of sore throat, fever, and flu as it is just the manifestation of another virus infection.

Business

We greet our acquaintance with a friendly handshake, the word close contact has never existed.

Business never closed. Malls, supermarkets, and restaurants are packed with non-stop customers.

We will be treated as “suspicious” people if we enter a bank wearing a face mask.

Sport

Parks and recreation centers are always filled with sportsmen/women who came to exercise to maintain good health.

We enjoy being physically present to cheer and to support our soccer team at the stadium.

Tourism

The tourism industry blooms like never before, homestays are mushrooming everywhere.

The sky is congested with non-stop travel of cargo, commercial, and passenger planes.

We visit and fly to any dream vacation without the issue of entry restrictions.  

Events

We practice open houses to celebrate all festivals and celebrations regardless of religion or race.

We invite friends and relatives to celebrate baby showers, full moon, and birthday parties for our loved ones.

On one wedding day, the bridegroom and bride’s facial reactions confirmed the I Do declaration. 

Friends and family still have the opportunities to gather and pay their last respect for their loved ones who have passed on. 

However, everything changed after the pandemic.

Our lifestyle

Our previous carefree life has forever changed and we do not know whether it will return to what it used to be before.

We have to learn how to work from home, and surely we will miss the office’s environment when we are trying to keep ourselves busy in the office.

Lipstick is no longer a must makeup before going out from the house, social distancing is as crucial as wearing a face mask.

Our Home

We were advised  to close our house doors for visitors to prevent any cross-infections

We have to think twice before we decide to pay our elderly parents a long waited visit. We will be at fault if the sickness of our parents was the outcome of our unexpected arrival.

Culinary books and youtube will be the most admires medium by housewives who are trying to learn how to cook for his/her family.

Our Children

Parents have to learn the new AI technology and commit their time to teach their children at home.

The children will be the happiest as they will have the chance to enjoy homemade meals prepared by their parents.

Health

We were scared to death even when we started to experience the mildest symptoms of a virus infection.

Authority commanded us to do frequent handwashing, with or without food.

Apart from hand washing, wearing a mask, physical distancing is a demand.

Hand sanitizer spray and solution become our closed companion whenever we are outside of the house.

Business

We will be denied entry even at the bank entrance door if we refuse to wear a face mask. 

Lockdown enforced, the business closed, and many employees lose their job and income.

Sport

We shout and cheer for our football team, but echoed only heard in front of the television.

No body-contact sport is allowed until the pandemic is over or under controlled.

Tourism

Many countries closed their international borders for the tourism industry.

No tourist, no tourism activities, hotel, motel, and homestay closing their operation.

Events

When two or three people gather together to meet, the enforcement officer will come with a compound fine.

No family members are allowed to attend the funeral, no chance to pay the last respect, no griefing moments, no mourning, and not even the final goodbye for Covid-19 patient who has journeyed alone to the afterlife.

Everything changed. Everything has changed after the covid pandemic. Whether we liked it or not, we are willing to accept it or not, we are convinced or not, we have no other choice, and we have to learn to adapt to the new normal to ensure our survival during this critical and challenging time.

--------------------------  Stay safe  -------------------------------

 Leads image from Unsplash