Anish Ghimire

The world is currently going through one of the worst possible humanitarian crises, the biggest of our generation. Not even a single one of us could have predicted or somehow prevented this crisis. Every part of the world has faced an adverse effect due to the outbreak of COVID – 19.
The lives of the people have been disrupted, shaken, and to some unfortunates, brought to a halt. It is indisputable that every one of us faces our peculiar challenges in such unprecedented times. And, such a challenge can be both mental and physical. We can be at the hospital, looking after our loved ones. We can be at home practicing self-isolation, protecting the other members of the family. We can we anywhere that relates to being safe and keeping others safe.

Mental Health
Now, let's talk about the mental health. We can be at such a place where our minds are drained from the daily routine circling our home. We can be at such a place where we do not have the vigor to perform any productive task. We could be lonely, depressed, or feeling detached from the real world. It can get toilsome for many of us. Whether one suffers physically or mentally, the results cannot come out well. So, what can we do at a personal level to assist such people? What are our core civic responsibility that can help soothe the situation?
It’s not only the state’s responsibility to handle a crisis. Yes, you will be surprised. But not everything comes down to the government. A large portion of responsibility falls on our shoulders. How we behave in times of crisis shows a reflection of our character. For starters, we should always put on a mask when we walk outside and never disremember to carry the hand sanitizer.
As of now, prohibitory orders are in place, so we must leave our homes only when it’s necessary. At once, one person per house should come to the market for essential purchases. We should make sure not to cause a crowd around the market area. Social distancing must be strictly practiced anywhere we are. We must not organize events, nor invite people, nor cause any type of gathering.
Technology has been a blessing in such times. It has connected people in a way that has never been done before. Many of us, have been talking with our loved ones and wishing them well on their health through the phone. Online interaction has also been a healthy habit as we reach out to people even if we cannot meet them physically. Colleges and schools are running academics thanks to the internet. 20 years ago this would have been beyond our imagination. We keep ourselves updated on the latest COVID – 19 news. We are well aware of the vaccine facility, as many people have submitted their forms online, including me. Now, we just have to await our turn.
The Internet has been a good medium to make lives easier but on the other hand, it has invited a lot of adversities. Some people, who have absolute disregard for other people’s sentiments spread fake news and information. Social media addiction creeps into some people as they desire excess likes and comments. In the name of “getting more likes” and “becoming famous” people spread fraudulent information. They post hoax by designing an inappropriate headline and try to lure people into the trap. This is a real downside of social media.
We must be aware of such a trap and not interact with it at all. Phony news can hamper the health of the people who are trying to get healed. Today, a hoax spreads faster than true information, so must be careful with the nature of the content we wish to see.

Gratitude
Gratitude is a habit we must equip. We must be grateful for our home, food, and health. Not many people have such luxury. Many people wake up with diseases, hoping they were healthy. Many people wake up on the streets yearning for a roof to cover their heads. An underrated part of our life can be a dream of someone. So, we must never take our life for granted. And we must practice gratefulness.
We should express our utmost respect for the frontline workers, who risk their lives every day for the sake of our country. We mustn’t go against the law or disrespect the police officers who monitor our activities every day. Many news has come forward stating some ill people are taking advantage of the situation and are conducting illegal activities. Such activities make life difficult for our frontline workers.
The aforementioned points were just a few examples of how we can make our lives a bit easier in such times. By following civic protocols we can ease a lot of troubles for ourselves and the people around us. It’s in our hands whether we let this crisis get the better of us or we defeat it altogether. If we want our normal lives back then we should go through this difficult process of restricting the spread of the virus. And we can do that by following simple protocols and by being self-aware of our activities.

(Ghimire is a college student)