“I will never take life for granted again,” says eastern suburbs local
The pandemic has been tough on our community and in so many ways, some of them entirely unexpected.
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This COVID-19’s got me on my hands and knees scouring the floor for a face mask before I head out the door. Hand sanitisers, gloves, and cleaning products, I will never take these for granted anymore.
Is it just me, or are the streets a lot quieter than usual? I can clearly hear birds chitter-chatter among each other, where the hustle and bustle of traffic is now a trickle, as the jibber-jabber of passers-by in conversation is now amplified.
There’s a certain laid-backness with the way the virus has got me and my neighbours living.
Where others don’t want to go back to the ‘old’ way, ‘rushed, distracted, outsourced’, as one parent put it.
Our lives are in the hands of others, where some of us are taking this virus seriously, and others don’t understand what all the fuss is about, as I catch a disgruntled man giving a woman the evil-eye for not following social distancing rules.
Day in, day out, same place, same space.
I hope we are all able to sustain our side of the universal plea, remaining patient, indoors, and off the streets. I won’t be raging or rebelling against COVID-19 any time soon, unlike those who were arrested for partying too close in proximity.
I just can’t help, but think about those in industries who have lost their jobs, or businesses, as I rise and shine into each new day.
Like a good kick up the you-know-what, all of this commotion has given way to a new perspective, to focus on my own race, pick up the pace, and no longer procrastinate.
Of all the national and worldwide calamities, I hope we’re not headed into impending tragedy, where recent hoarding of groceries was like rationing, and the simplest things are to be grateful for; food, water, health, shelter, work, care, laughter.
I plan to only consume what I believe I need, where in return, I’ll get back what I put in.
In God-speed I hope casualties decline, including those on the frontline who risk their lives, where no stone is unturned in finding a vaccine, and social distancing rules aren’t relaxed too soon.
Soze Edmonds is a community service student studying social work and is passionate about the issues of homelessness and also mental health. She lives in Randwick.