Your Body is away from me,
But there is a window open
From my heart to yours ————- Rumi
The year 2020 and 2021 has been a very tricky one for most of us. We never envisaged that one has to face and deal with loss and grief of such huge proportions in the last few decades post the Spanish flu, the great Bengal famine and the two world wars. Today as we crawl towards a new normal life, one has become more wiser and reflective thanks to all the time we had to ourselves confined in closed spaces, to think about our purpose and what does life have in store for me ?
Today the corporate world is facing a new challenge – the great resignation syndrome ? But what has triggered thi? People have become more aware of the meaning of life and what intimacy actually means. With sudden loss of near and dear ones, the inability to say fond good byes, the travel restrictions coming in the way to accompany the person in their final journeys and many more such activities that we just took for granted have started hitting us hard. We want to make the most of what we are left with, live in the moment for we do not know what lies ahead of us.
People are coping with loss in various ways. For some the daily 9 to 5 routine for money is no more appealing .They are increasingly questioning the value of time, the value of their relationships at home and work, their identity and self- esteem.
Do I feel loved ?
Do I feel wanted?
Do I feel respected for what I do ?
Any place that does not provide answers in the affirmative, home or work, is today a small trigger to say a goodbye to a bond that is no longer serving its purpose of mutual needs. I see more and more youngsters quitting their jobs to take up freelance assignments and happy to travel for months in nomadic existence. People around me have become so simple in their existence and demands of personal needs. Less is more today. People are more accepting of frugal means of living. Materialistic forms of self-gratification for many have taken a back seat and they prefer to spend money on experiences, living through travel, gardening, loving pets, social causes etc. The ethos of society is probably moving more towards humanity and compassion post the pandemic…which incidentally is still not over.
Post the wars its only now that we had to deal with loss of various kinds
Loss of social contact due to lockdowns
Loss of personal spaces due to work from home norms
Loss of movement due to travel restrictions
Loss of lives due to covid
Loss of identity due to remote working
Loss of personal security due to increased anxiety
Loss of wealth due to economy slowdown
Loss of expression especially for children forbidden to play in parks and sports grounds
Loss of peace and security due to living with unknown future
Loss of love within family members unable to express physical touch due to distance
Loss of friendships due to death ,separation, distance
Loss of relationships especially for working professionals who miss the casual conversations over tea breaks.
Moving from denial to acceptance(DABDA ,refer Kubler Ross grief curve) has been a huge transformational journey for most of us.
Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes.
Because for those who love with their heart and soul
There is no such thing as separation. Rumi
Suparna's Yugen 