“2020 was 2020 days ago… Time flies.” When I first came across this trending thought on social media, I instinctively reached for the calendar. Could it really have been that long?
It seems like only yesterday that the world fell silent. Roads were deserted. Schools echoed with emptiness. Airports stood still. Masks covered our smiles, hand sanitisers occupied every pocket, and uncertainty became the order of the day.
I then recalled Laddu Pinto, a bright college student I had counselled in the year 2020. During the lockdown, he used to cry a lot and vehemently complained that life had come to a standstill. “I can’t wait for things to become normal again,” he would shout desperately all through his days.
When I called him to know his mood today, he smiled, gasped and said, “Sir, I don’t even know where those six years disappeared!” That is the strange thing about time. It crawls when we are living through difficult moments, but it sprints when we look back.
The 2020 pandemic changed the world; we all have witnessed it. The bigger question is, have we learned enough from those changes?
COVID showed us that investing in health is our greatest asset, yet many neglect it, risking their well-being and future security. Yet today, gyms have irregular attendance, annual health check-ups are postponed, sleep is sacrificed, and stress has quietly become a way of life for many. We seem to have forgotten the lesson we learned the hard way during those COVID waves! We insure our cars and homes. Why don’t we invest with equal seriousness in the one asset we can never replace, our own body?
The second lesson was all about relationships. For months, families sat together for meals. Parents got to know their kids closely. Grandparents narrated stories that smartphones had almost erased from family life. We celebrated birthdays on video calls, laughed over simple meals and discovered that happiness doesn’t always require expensive holidays.
COVID reminded us of a truth we often ignore – Togetherness is the real joy of life! You never know which conversation with a loved one may be your last. So don’t postpone that phone call. Don’t delay saying “Thank you.” Don’t wait to say, “I love you.”
However, today we all seem to have forgotten these values of life. The mad rush for growth and survival has pushed us back into our fast-running lifestyle, away from our loved ones.
One of the most practical lessons we learned during the pandemic was financial preparedness. Thousands of expert professionals suddenly found themselves without jobs. Businesses that had flourished for decades struggled to survive. Many families realized that high income is not equivalent to financial security. Our grandparents often advised us to “save for a rainy day.” COVID proved that saying to be true. An emergency fund is not pessimism; it is preparedness. However, it’s so disappointing to see some people have moved away from saving and messed up their finances with reckless luxuries. Sad.
The pandemic also encouraged many people to discover new possibilities. Schools started online classes. Artists launched digital teaching sessions. Professionals began consulting independently. Homemakers turned hobbies into successful businesses. The future belongs to those who build multiple streams of income, not merely multiple expenses. How many of us are on this path today? A point for self-audit, isn’t it?
Perhaps one lesson we learned forcefully during Covid deserves an updated version today. During those days, we practised social distancing. Today, we need “social media distancing”. Research consistently shows that excessive social media use is associated with reduced attention span, lower productivity and increased stress among many users. Just imagine what would happen if one hour of daily scrolling were invested in reading, learning a new skill, exercising or simply talking to family members. Sometimes the most productive notification is the one you never open. Let’s learn and implement this.
Another important lesson COVID taught us was resilience. Life will always surprise us. Pandemics, economic slowdowns, technological disruptions and personal setbacks rarely announce their arrival. Preparedness is no longer optional. Upgrade your skills regularly. Keep learning. Build meaningful relationships. Have a Plan B ready before you desperately need one. Do not lose track of these vital learnings.
Finally, COVID taught us gratitude. A morning walk. A classroom full of students. Tea with friends and family. A crowded railway station. A warm handshake. All these we once considered ordinary suddenly became priceless. Having learned the lesson the hard way, today we must all the more be grateful for the world around us, for the mornings that we get to see, for everything that exists in our ecosystem! Unfortunately, we still see people complaining about the silliest of discomforts! Where has the sense of gratitude gone?
Today, 2020 is already 2020 days behind us. The newspaper headlines have faded. The lockdown passes have disappeared. The masks have totally come off. But the lessons should remain permanently stitched into our lives, because time flies for everyone.
The real difference lies in whether we merely let time pass… or allow it to make us wiser.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
