Why Lockdown 4.0 is Lockdown 2.0 for me
I am no stranger to lockdowns.
It sounds strange, doesn't it?
Well, I am no criminal and I have not been incarcerated in the past, just in case you were wondering.
Wrong, not been to rehab either.
I am talking about my isolation since the past year during my treatment. For those who haven’t read my blogs in the past, I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC), or breast cancer (in English!), stage 2b in February 2019. During my treatment last year, my doctors advised me to avoid meeting people, going out to public places, eating out, travel, and avoid visitors completely (Since my treatment resulted in suppressed immunity). Oh and also added sugar and red meat. So I am a pro at ‘quarantining’, ‘social distancing’, ‘eating clean’, and ‘eating healthy’ before they became social media viral trends.
During these 4 Lockdowns in India, some folks on social media have been complaining about how they can’t go to a salon, get their nails or hair done. A few complaint about missing office gossip in the pantry and endless cups of tea/coffee with their team. Parents complain about kids whining and nagging them while being at home and how working from home is a pain. Not having domestic help is another sad story for us Indians who are used to having at least 2 people as paid domestic help. Folks I know complain about losing sleep since they hate being confined. Mental health issues are being talked about, also vacations being cancelled, children complaining about staying indoors.
Being a self-confessed expert at isolation, I’d like to share some of the lessons I have learned while practicing ‘stay home’, ‘stay safe’.
The biggest lesson I learned during my treatment is gratitude.
Be grateful for the everyday things around you. It's such a privilege to have your family around you. Because suffering alone is infinitely more painful. Be thankful that you can look outside your window and watch sunlight bouncing off the glass. Because I know what it feels like when you have to sit in your room with curtains tightly drawn as your eyes water uncontrollably in sunlight. Be thankful for food on the table, because I know what it feels like when you can’t stand the sight or smell of food. Be grateful that you can have your favorite cuppa without throwing up. Be grateful that you can eat your favorite food because I know how it feels when your favorite is right in front of your eyes but you can’t keep it down even if you try to eat it. Be grateful for your looks, including your hair and your nails. Because I know what it feels like when you don’t have a single hair on your body, including eyebrows and eyelashes, and your nails turn black.
I know how unimaginably hurt one feels when your child recoils at your sight, cries at the sight of your bald head and you struggle to always keep a cap on, even in intensely hot summer months. Be grateful for having healthy children because I have seen 12 months old kids undergoing chemotherapy along with me, a fact that was more nauseating than my chemotherapy. Be grateful at being able to hold your kids close, in a tight hug, for I know what it feels like when you have to consciously stay away from your child for fear of catching an infection that will delay your treatment.
Be grateful that your last vacation was only a few months ago because I know what it feels like to undergo a 14 month-long treatment hoping to travel after that but the Covid-19 lockdown starts only 2 days after it gets completed. Be grateful for your inner strength because I know what it feels like when you suffer so much that you stay up all night, praying for your own death. Above all, learn to smile and be grateful that you have a lot to smile about.
So come on now, smoothen the creases on your forehead. Let’s learn to smile at no one in particular and say this to ourselves, just like I did — this too shall pass.
