India has learned a number of hard lessons as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The first is that we can no longer continue to exploit nature ruthlessly. Climate change, irregular weather patterns, and pollution of the air, land, and sea have driven the country, and the planet, to a precipice. Unless this is rapidly corrected, we will be in serious difficulty by the end of the century. It’s incredible that the lockdown has resulted in nature regenerating. After decades of pollution, we saw blue sky again, and various animal, bird, and insect species made a comeback. We must strive to keep these positive trends going so that we do not relapse to the old normal, but instead adopt a new normal. 

“COVID-19 has taught us that health is extremely important in our lives, as healthy people are better able to combat the coronavirus. “The environment has a direct impact on our health”. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us a lot of valuable lessons and shifted our life priorities. Most of us wouldn’t have comprehended terms like social distancing or flattening the curve a year ago, and the concept of wearing fabric masks in public or being unable to walk out in public would have looked ridiculous. When we fast forward to early 2020, everything has altered. While COVID-19 has brought with it new problems and uncertainty, it has also taught us some important lessons. 

Covid-19 has taught us Lessons of Life:

1.Family and friends come first: Many of us may have taken human interaction for granted until the coronavirus took over our life. However, spending time with our close loved ones has now taken precedence. Despite the natural frustrations that everyday confinement might bring, it’s crucial to consider what our family and friends mean to us. But grab the day and remember that there are more good times with family and friends today, and we are receiving care and love that was long overdue and really needed somewhere. We appreciate it! 

2. Hobbies are therapeutic: During the lockdown, most of us have either honed our culinary skills or started cooking from scratch. Except for those who have been away from home due to job or studies, those of us who have been dependent on our mothers/fathers or a chef for our favorite meals have recently experienced the effort and time it takes in the kitchen. Our renewed excitement for hobbies, such as cooking and knitting, as well as painting and learning a new language, has helped us recharge our health batteries while also strengthening our bonds with our families. 

3. Less Pollution, Clear Blue Skies: Cities choking on toxic gases emitted during festivals, as well as from vehicular and factory operations, are nothing new to us. However, we haven’t seen clear blue skies in a long time since lockdown was implemented, roughly from mid-March onwards. Not only that, but the AQI improved dramatically for months, and for the first time in a long time, we breathed clean, pollution-free air! We had almost forgotten how blue skies looked and how fresh air felt until we experienced them during this period! 

4. Life is valuable: Recognize and appreciate what we have. With over 225 thousand lives lost in the United States (and over 1.1 million worldwide) as a result of the epidemic, I’ve had to reconsider my priorities and recall how valuable life is. It’s served as a reminder to enjoy the little things in life, which I often overlook. With so many people dying every day, I am grateful for my family and friends, even if it means video chats and text messages when we can’t see each other face to face. Given how many others are sick, I am thankful for my good health. With so many people losing their jobs and becoming homeless, I am thankful for the food in my refrigerator and a safe place to call home. This pandemic has caused me to re-evaluate my life and prioritize my priorities, as well as act as a reminder of how valuable life is and how much I value the little things in life.