March, April, May, June... 2020

What's new? Usually around this time of the year we would be wrapping up our boards, closing the financial year, taking that family vacation or simply going on with life. So, what's new? It's hardly revelatory to point the obvious, yes corona has unsettled stuff and wrecked havoc putting us all behind walls. So, what's new? Before I bore you with what I assume was a clever rhetoric, I just want to say that there is something about these unusual and unprecedented times that despite its strangeness seem to bring back a sense of normalcy in these ironically abnormal times.

Here are 6 reasons which will show you how

1. Time to get physical

For those uninitiated in the practice of this ancient exercise, tread carefully, for the Jhadu Pocha (broom & mop) requires the ultimate balance of the mind and body. Training the mind to be oblivious to the sweat gathering on the brow while training the eyes to dust magnifying perfection. Training the body in the Bai pose - squatting and sliding forwards while training the hands to rhythmically move to and fro. It is an exercise that uses every muscle in the body toning it as we swish around. Many of us have reaped the benefits of Jhadu Pocha since the lock-down began, so why not switch over to this cross-fit exercise from our good old gym (which I'm sure you all have heard is not exactly the temple of hygiene).

P.S. Jhadu Pocha is just a metaphor for natural physical activity that doesn't require the jazz.

2. Where's the dirt?

Times have changed, from observing the 'I can eat whatever has fallen down before 5 seconds' rule to 'No less than 20 seconds hand-wash' rule, humans do have a knack for speedy evolution. Barely a minute before the lock-down we were licking off pani-puri straight from the street vendor's palms to just a minute after lock-down and we were drowning ourselves in 99% alcohol sanitizers. Mobile apps haven't upgraded as quickly!

3. Dunk the Junk

It's established - we can all cook and not just enough to survive, but judging by all the showing off that's been floating around internet in the form of apple pie's and Spanish omelette's we can all cook fabulously. So, how about lessening that dependency on ordering-in or hooking up with new cafes every weekend? How about reining in that tongue and taking care of the body?

4. Planet time

Look at that sight! So finally the animal kingdom gets its redemption. All our lives we've entertained ourselves by ogling at animals put behind bars. How does it feel, now that the tables have been turned on us? And yet in such bizarre times we continue clicking photos trying to capture the moment while the peacock majestically struts, living in it.

5. Where should I go this summer?

We had planned a fantastic trip to the Andaman's post my brother's boards which were to end on the 24th of March so naturally we planned to leave on the 25th. So much for all our pompousness, of course the trip got cancelled, but to have the dates coincide with the date of the first lock-down was too painful to digest. For all those with the same story, learn something from my friend Jyoti here, she decks up everyday and sunbathes cheerily on her balcony, you could almost imagine you were on a sunny island. And for those without any balcony, you know the meme, 'Las Bedroom - South Hall - Los Kitchen' ...

6. We are family

We've come a long way, from a world where 'me time' and 'personal space' were on the rise to a world where we are forced to remain closeted with our families. As we stayed together from lock-down 1.0 to 4.0 the 'me time' slowly became the 'us time'. We started bonding with each other like never before, playing old board games, watching all the old classic serials that DD brought back for us, increasing video calls with the extended family, cooking, eating and meditating together...Every cloud has a silver lining and here each day is a family day!

These were a few things that have brought out the optimism in us during these strange times. As Albus Dumbledore said, "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."