With over 35 years’ experience as a successful wellness counsellor and dietician, Kusum Saxena, who lives in California, has received acclaim for her unique style of teaching. Her health craft offers a four-fold bespoke programme that includes yoga, diet, reflexology and relationship counselling. Through word-of-mouth, Kusum’s customised, effective methodology has garnered a loyal international clientele. She has been invited as a guest speaker and workshop facilitator on wellness and contributed articles on various aspects of wellness for a reputed health magazine. Kusum gives her perspective on The Other Side of Covid in this post written by her.
When the pandemic unleashed its deadly force upon the world, global mayhem and pandemonium ensued. The initial lack of treatment, the uncertainty of recovery and effective preventive measures, all added to the stress. As Covid became an undeniable reality, and the world shifted a tad on its axis, my family reminded me that thankfully we were on the right side of the pandemic. We were together, rather than worrying about each other’s safety and health from half a world apart.
Running parallel to the doom and gloom, and perhaps less noticeable at first glance, was the upward graph of human resilience and potential that soared to new levels when humankind got pushed to fight this invisible and heretofore unknown enemy in Covid. Scientists fast tracked the development of a vaccine, health workers globally showed immeasurable courage and fortitude in caring for the sick whilst risking their own safety, and everywhere people intensified their selfless prayers for humanity.
A kind of comradeship developed amongst us all, as we found ourselves in it together. Random acts of kindness surged, as folks put their best foot forward to help and support each other. Interactions, whether virtual or at a distance of six feet apart, were filled with exchange of experiences and information. Delays, whether in lines at the local stores for essentials, or in tasks being completed, were for once forgiven and treated with understanding.
Seemingly, the environment benefited as well with less air and water pollution, and anecdotal evidence of increase in wildlife in urban environments due to non- interference from human traffic. Coyotes, the bane of small pet owners, started visiting our neighbourhood frequently, leading to neighbours posting pictures like this – of coyotes relaxing on their deck, or leisurely walking along sidewalks.
At the familial level, the sudden pause in everyone’s lives with strict lockdown rules, social distancing and remote telecommute also disrupted the quotidian and, at first, caused annoyances and exasperation when family members found themselves together 24/7 in uncertain times, confined within a limited space. Spending quality time took on a whole different meaning! However, after going through the various phases of unrest and exasperation, many families came out smiling.
As a wellness counsellor, I was privy to this first hand with my clients. A couple that I counselled – June and Robert, who have two school going children, also faced the initial roller coaster of uncertainty as much in their professional lives as that of their children’s education. They wanted to keep their family safe, make fitness and wellness a priority, and co-exist harmoniously while trying to balance their different personalities, and changed schedules. Not a simple task as they both differed a bit on what measures constituted keeping safe, and the division of certain new tasks. However, after some initial sputters, June, Robert and their children managed these challenging times remarkably well, by taking advantage of the way their life had slowed down due to the pandemic.
Time saved in commuting or getting ready to go to school, or running ‘non-essential’ errands was spent more constructively. June and Robert started off by charting out a structure for their days, and that of their children, to ensure a balance between work or online classes and relaxing activities – whether in the form of cooking their family meals in a more healthy way, indoor table games, jigsaw puzzles or virtual playtime with friends for the kids and Wordle for the adults, or enjoying nature walks in uncrowded surroundings. June guided her kids to use the extra time after their online classes on a couple of their favourite activities that gave them a sense of happiness and freedom from within the secure confines of their home. She specifically noted that having more time at home improved her focus and productivity in a manner that allowed her to get not just herself but her children into sustainable self-care routines.
The couple also wove in time for the family members to talk about what felt important to them, and especially for the children to be able to share their feelings or issues in a non-rushed setting. With extra time at home, sibling disputes began to be resolved by the parents in a more relaxed way. This enhanced the kids’ emotional wellness too, as they learnt to accept their limitations. They also learned to manage more of their day at home without looking for outside distractions. As the family slowly embraced their new normal, they realized that positive behaviour can come from negative circumstances – like bonding with family and learning to listen and take care of each other!
Shifting from the micro to a macro perspective, in a similar vein, the 2022 World Happiness Ranking Report notes that “The pandemic brought not only pain and suffering but also an increase in social support and benevolence. As we battle the ills of disease and war, it is essential to remember the universal desire for happiness and the capacity of individuals to rally to each other’s support in times of great need.”
The challenge will be to sustain the positive habits and lessons learned when the gears shift again.
