The last 3 years have been tumultuous. Under the shadow of the dreaded pandemic our ways of living screeched to a shuddering halt. Everyone was forced to a new way of life. Some adapted, a few thrived and a vast majority struggled.

And even as we were looking forward to getting back to a semblance of normalcy, the war and a looming recession has ushered in a plethora of uncertainty.

It’s been one wave after another of angst and uncertainty. So it’s only fair that we struggle to find meaning and indeed a way forward during these times. My own reflections have opened a few insights,

We have also aged in the last 3 years

We may have hit the pause button for 3 years, and may have assumed we can just roll the clock back to end 2019. But that’s really not how things are. A 7 year old has become a 10 year old, a 40 year old has become 43 years old and an 81 year old has become 84 years old. Age does things to our body and our brains. Children have become teenagers, seniors have become super seniors and adults have moved closer to becoming seniors. As we again step out into the world with greater freedom, we need to keep this in mind.

Society has changed and yet not

One thing I have realised is the value of meeting people in flesh and blood. The richness of interactions and shared experiences are priceless. Of course many things went online and we celebrated our ability to do so many things remotely. However we were making the best out of a bad situation. Commuting in traffic and spending additional travel time is well worth the effort to meet people and make new friends. COVID has not changed our DNA to become loners. We are still social animals. And yet there are many amongst us who are not able to make the shift to step out and meet people.

It’s a different future

The world 20 years from now is not going to be a scaled clone of the present. Technology would have changed many of our lifestyles. Indeed there will be a lot more convenience for all of us. On the flip side, climate would have forced several new constraints on our life. At the same time wars, if they do occur, would have created new priorities and outlooks on humankind. So we cannot visualise how things will be for our children. Success – even socially accepted norms of success would have undergone vast changes. I for one cannot fathom what it may look like.

Let go and Enjoy

Uncertainty means we cannot control everything that will happen. The level of chaos has increased manifold over the last 3 years. There is uncertainty around our jobs and the economy. There is uncertainty around communities and their relative peace. There is volatility within and in between countries. And there is volatility about the climate and its consequences. Now all of these then create great stress on our mental and physical well being.

The only space we have relative control is our own mental state. And I figured the best way to address that is to let go. Accept we cannot control what will happen in the future. So there is no point in fretting about that. We have today, so let’s have some wholesome fun. Let’s create memories today that we can cherish into the future!

Memories are all that we carry

Happiness comes from the little joys and experiences we have in our everyday lives. There is really no pot of happiness waiting for us at the end of the road. So take a break, have some refreshments, take in what’s around you, hold hands and then get back on the road. Those stolen moments and shared fun are all that we will carry when we reach our destination.