I know you have probably heard enough of it.You can no longer stand kagwe's automated speech, journalists highlighting the plight of those affected by this pandemic...lack of stadiums with actual fans, KOT waiting to prey on the next 'scandal' and do not even get me started on Edgar Obares and X-tian Delas of this world. But there is more to covid than what the media keeps shoving down our throats. To me, there is a bigger picture, I call it a blessing in disguise.
On life, today a kid with downsyndrome waved at me, me! amongst a crowd he chose me ,and just that, a wave and a smile turned my whole day around. The fact that a single person's smile can make my day is change in itself. A few months ago I could not bat an eyelid at a kid, leave a lone a differently abled one. I was riding on my invisible high horse, Covid has taught me that appreciation of the small things in life.
On books, I am hoarder of books now, motivational and self help mostly, a thing I swore never to do after my highschool. I was honestly so done with books, if anything I loathed books, now, thanks to covid I joined a bookclub. It all started with me spending a whole lot of time on youtube watching vlogs about what to do during quarantine and I gave reading a go and it worked out fine. Covid has taught me the discipline of reading and actually has given me the will to, a thing a tried doing for the past 16 years...paid for it even.
On new skills , I dig now, literally, I know how to hold a jembe and till land, its a project I started with my friends and we are still waiting for the first harvest. My mum is in awe. Covid has pushed me to bring out the best in me. It surely is better than netflix and entaglements all day.
On friendships, I have gotten to know my friends better with all the hanging out,known which buttons to press when. I have crossed some, made up again, shared my most vulnerable moments with them without leaving out my silver linings. We get to talk about our fears,our ambitions and more importantly our blessings. The advantage of proximity and 'idleness' has also come in handy .P.S we call ourselves the squad.
On family,This is the longest I have been home. My friend Tumaini always thought I hated home when I chose to spend my gay days partying the nights away in the city under the sun, well that's partly true and its a story for another day. Now I can tell my mother's sleep schedule off head , exactly when she starts snoring and when she completely drifts away. I can finally differentiate my sister's footsteps from my mother's .(This skill should be included in my resumè). We even created a routine for house chores with my sister. I could not want it any other way.
On compassion, I have related, contributed, sympathised even prayed for extremely jeopardised people during this pandemic. This is one of those things that get one a chance to be a better version of themselves, to be human again, to practise what one preaches. To drink the wine because that water thing doesn't work for me.
On challenges, forget the pillow challenge, the 'don't rush' one (if I hear that song one more time I'm gonna loose it). I am talking about the mask challenge that I am facing ,speaking from a lipstick wearer's point of view. People with glasses are having it even rougher.And the weirdest thing is that our main motivator is police brutality.Nevertheless stay safe and keep sanitising, brighter days will surely come.
What is your covid experience??? more precisely what has covid taught you??