Slowly, life has to go on

And just like that, we have ushered in the "-ber" months. You can count on us Pinoys to play Christmas songs this early, always hoping that things will get better no matter how dim the situation is. 

With most of the restrictions lifted, life is slowly going back to how it was. Or maybe, many of us are trying to get on with our lives. People had gotten numb; no longer as concerned about the COVID numbers. Personally, I no longer wait for the daily update of the health department, perhaps because I stopped trusting them.

Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash

Make no mistake, COVID is still here. It’s still claiming lives. Just yesterday, my High School classmate’s 24-year old daughter died from it. It’s awful sad news because she’s her firstborn; had her when she was only 19. By all accounts, they’re not just having a mother-daughter relationship, they were each other’s best friend. It’s especially difficult for my friend because she’s a single mom but she has to remain strong for her other two kids.

So yes, there are more people outside now. Taxis, buses, and jeepneys are now allowed and many establishments, including non-contact gyms, internet cafes, and grooming services are open for business. Even our office opened last September 1 with a skeletal force working onsite. 

Health Secretary Duque said that another ECQ (Enhanced Community Quarantine) will cause irreparable damage to the economy, so even if many believed that the country doesn’t have the capacity to provide critical healthcare, the president retained GCQ (General Community Quarantine) for Metro Manila. Frankly, a lot of people stopped caring anymore because it has become a matter of personal survival.

As some semblance of normal has to go on, many advised that even if we are now on GCQ, we should act like it’s still ECQ. That we should never put our guards down. In our city, wearing a face mask is not enough, as we are also required to wear a full-face shield. You will be denied access to most establishments without it, or if you’re just wearing some fancy visor shield. Physical-distancing is still observed and you have to fill out a contract tracing form before you are allowed to go inside supermarkets and malls.   

I still have bad days when I’d find myself worrying about everything. Most of the time I feel out of sorts. The uncertainty of the days to come is the toughest thing to handle. Sometimes my anxiety and fears become difficult to manage I would stay in bed curled in a ball the whole day. I guess such episodes will never go away until we find a vaccine and we can finally raise our middle finger to this virus. 

But there will always be good days no matter what. I try to keep my focus on the things I can control and ground myself at the moment instead of worrying about what’s yet to come. I continue to plan for Christmas as if we’re not in a pandemic, telling my nephews that if it’s safe by then, we will have that hotel staycation I promised. My friends and I are still making plans for our yearly Christmas wishlist tradition, even if it will only be via video conference. And yes, if I’m lucky enough to survive this I will celebrate my 44th birthday come December.

It’s a frightening time no doubt, but life has to go on albeit slowly. I thank the Lord that He has kept me and my family safe. 

My only prayer is that we’ll see the end of this together.