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By Ozioma Onyenweaku
The Year 2020 was embraced with a lot of enthusiasm. We looked up to it with great hopes and aspiration. Then news started filtering in of a certain virus and illness from one country. No problem; we are used to the diseases springing up here and now.
Alas! This turned out to be different from what we have had in recent times! COVID-19! This virus that attacks the respiratory system started ravaging and blew into great pandemic. The world locked up. Economies shut down. Homes locked up. Individuals and businesses locked up. Life and Survival became the goal of everyone. Jobs were lost. Many lives lost, and academic sessions lost. But in all the losses, people are happy to still be breathing.
Year 2020 actually gave us an insight into what really is important in life. It taught us that the more important things are the things we take for granted. We breathe without giving a thought to it. We wake up and dash off to hustle without seeing the waking up as a great gift. In the Year 2020 we have come to realize that waking up and still be breathing and alive is such a great gift.
We avoided all the buzzing life just to keep breathing. For once people realized that material wealth is not deserving of the kind of high price tag we have attached to it. All the exotic cars and jets were gathering dust as packed. The designer clothes and jewelries lost their allure as there was nowhere to go to flaunt them. The home became a priority as it should be because there was danger, in fact, death outside. Family members bonded. Friendships were better defined and straightened.
The Year 2020 with the COVID-19 defined and brought about new normal. It opened our eyes to different possible ways of doing some things efficiently and effectively. It gave many people opportunity of trying out all that technology can offer in achieving better result at work and in business.
Personally, the Year 2020 with its attendant COVID-19 presented me with an opportunity to get my priorities right. When priorities are got right, no energy is spent chasing shadows. Plans are better executed and sense of fulfillment thereby achieved.
The basic necessities of life are all that is needed. Improved human relations and humanity make life go merry. Families are important; and there is need to always look out for others, and be there for one another. Every other thing matters less.
On a national level, getting our priorities right as a nation is one sure step towards getting the nation working and working right. When resources and attention are placed in areas of priority we grow as a nation. Health is one area that naturally must fall within the priority list of our nation; so also security and welfare of citizens.
We no longer need to pretend about our lack of attention to the basic necessities of life of the citizens. If we treasure life as glaringly brought to our attention this year, we must get to work. The neglected health sector, the choking unemployment level, the zero welfare, the insecurity of life and property must be given attention. They must be on the priority list.
As we are bidding farewell to Year 2020, we make plans to move forward with all the lessons learnt from 2020. Individually and as a family, we move in line with the lessons of the new normal. Life and people are all that matter. We must touch lives positively, for that is the essence of life.
As a nation, as we plan, we plan for the future; and children are the future. They are the assurance of the continuity of the nation. They must not be neglected. We must ensure their welfare and security at all times. We must never play politics with the life, welfare and safety of our children.
We must look into the escalating cases of drug abuse among our youths, reassess situations and see how we as a nation have contributed towards pushing youths to resort to drug for succor.
We breathe and are alive! That’s our success in the Year 2020; so we look forward to ushering in the year 2021 with renewed hope and better understanding of life.
Fare thee well, Year 2020, as your bag of lessons is for keeps.