The corona topic has gained such popularity and attracted many whining Instagrammers that sitting down to write a column, the only topic that I could think of is THE virus.

Now don’t get me wrong: I do think it’s a very critical situation and we all ought to take it seriously (yes, this means don’t meet up with your friends and chill), but sometimes we get too dwelled into it and become restless, anxious, overwhelmed and in the end can’t manage to meet our own responsibilities!

Overloaded with information, warnings, numbers and panics, the first few days of being indoors were quite overwhelming. I wanted to get some work done but it was barely possible given the messages I constantly received and me forwarding them to others, leading to a 30-minute discussion on how our futures will look like. Now, who are we to foresee that?

I was genuinely scared that this anxiety would last the entire quarantine period and I wouldn’t be able to get any work done (exams are just around the corner!). At some point I decided to give it all a pause, of course stick to the necessary safety measures, but be in a state where I am able to keep functioning.

Now that there is more time at hand (although to be honest, university work is taking up some serious amount of time) it is a good time to reflect, pick up an old hobby, catch up with some friends or just have some extra “me” time. For me this has resulted in the following poem:

So this is what it took

So this is what it took
For us to realize…

The short tea talks were worth the time
For lonely our cups sit at the window side,
Seeking for a partner, near but far.

So this is what it took
For us to realize…

All the greetings and meetings were more than just fine
For today, the only ear to talk to, will be mine.

So this is what it took
For us to realize…

The packed library halls are close to our hearts
Shuffling and struggling, we try to work from our homes.

So this is what it took
For us to realize…

Big we may be, but only a virus it took to kill our inner beasts.
For small we are, we say now, as we crunch under our blanket sheets.

So this is what it took
For us to realize…

Blinded we were from love, hope and gratitude,
As we now seek them in our small cocoons.

So this is what it took
For us to realize…

As we cover up our faces, hoard supermarkets and spend our time doing boredom-inspired online challenges, let us also step back and think of the most vulnerable and lonely amongst us. How could you as an individual be of support to your neighbor in this tough period?

Take care and stay healthy everyone!