Throughout the month of May, the lockdowns in the Middle East have begun to ease up. Shops were reopened with regulations to prevent infection and people have been slowly returning to their old routines. With everything that happened, it’s really interesting to see people showing extra care to their personal and public hygiene. During his lecture about COVID-19 and the Future of the World, Mr. Ido Aharoni mentioned that the world is searching for a new health standard.
Shana: I am constantly finding myself paying extra attention to everything I am touching, eating, and where I place my hands. This period of time has taken a tough toll on mental health for people all over the world. Being locked up and paranoid with no certainty when it comes to the following day really affects the way one goes on with their life. Things easing up and people slowly reintegrating back into their lives with slight changes and extra caution is something I am currently very grateful for. Overall, this pandemic has really shown me the simple pleasures that come with living a regular life. It will definitely serve as a life lesson and a reminder to be grateful constantly.
Ophyr: The coronavirus has helped give people a better perspective as to how precious and uncertain our lives are, and how to strive towards achieving their goals now versus later. Initially, when COVID-19 broke out, I was perplexed and uncertain. I had just moved to Tel Aviv after an 8-month trip around South and Central America, with hopes of enjoying the hectic city lifestyle and the endless supply of energy that roamed the streets. Then in a flash, everything went on hold. While surprising at first, I realized the vast opportunities that arose thanks to the “pause” that COVID-19 obliged us all to take. It touched me to see the world unite towards a higher purpose. I saw the humanity behind people, I saw the power in people, and the power in technology and the media influencers that helped inform and encourage everyone during this time. I too strive to become an influencer, and this period in time helped me push towards my future by enrolling and recently getting accepted to the IDC university.
In conclusion, we are hopeful that the effects of the pandemic will carry on diminishing and that our newly found awareness towards hygiene will continue to be present in our daily lives. With that being said, we are grateful for the small pause from our normally hectic reality, the clarity, and the drive that came from it. We believe that if we stick to this mindset of appreciation of the little things and noticing the opportunities that cross our paths, we will start to live our lives to the fullest and our futures will be better for it.