It’s been approximately one year and four months since Guyana recorded its first case of the COVID-19 virus. From then to now, life has changed entirely for every single Guyanese. Like the rest of the world, Guyana had to put strict restrictions and guidelines in place for its citizens to follow. This changed the way we transact business, the way our students learn and even how we grieve. Many persons lost a whole lot due to the pandemic. While some think that there will be a rainbow at the end of this “storm”, that isn’t a reality many will be able to have. Life will never be the same for some persons, and I think our country ought to take that into consideration as we plan to move forward with national development and rebuilding after the pandemic.
Recently, I’ve been dealing with the loss of someone close to me. They contracted the virus and subsequently passed and life as I know it has changed forever. I do not want to go into details about this saddening situation but I wrote this article just to shed light on what grief and loss feels like in a pandemic. It hits you differently. You start to wonder about all of the possibilities and scenarios of what could’ve happened to prevent such a loss. Perhaps, if someone wore a mask or sanitised properly; things would’ve been different. Or, if they took their vaccines in time and maintained a social distance from others, things would’ve been different. While grieving, I got angry at the world for allowing such a virus to spread rapidly. I’ve said to myself many times, “If there was no outbreak in China, then there would’ve been no COVID-19 virus and that means that I wouldn’t have been grieving the death of this person after they died from the virus”.
Grief can be difficult to handle on any given day, but it’s even more difficult during a pandemic. In some ways or the other, many of us have gotten “comfortable” with the COVID-19 virus. We believe that because we were never directly affected by the said virus, it means that we never will be. We forget that the statistics of increasing cases and deaths account for real people who lived ordinary lives until they contracted the said virus. They’re more than just numbers. Coping with grief during the pandemic isn’t associated with the death of someone only as well. Many are grieving because they lost their jobs, many are grieving because they lost connections with persons they did not see in a while, many are grieving because they lost their sense of normalcy. We’re all grieving in some way or the other.
In the midst of it all, I would like you to remember that you should let go of the things you have no control over. It allowed me to stop blaming myself over situations that I couldn’t stop from happening. It allowed me to be free. It is also important to understand the stages of grief and to comprehend how to cope in each stage you’re in. The most important thing I’ve had to learn through grieving is that I should also remember to be happy and smiling about the good things I still have left. The pandemic took so much from us, but that shouldn’t change the things that can last forever. For me, it’s the continuous support of my friends and family, my ability to persevere through obstacles, my strong sense of compassion for life and those around me. The pandemic couldn’t take that away from me, and I hope you self actualise to find out what virtues and positivity the pandemic cannot take away from you. When you find out what they are—use them as your motivation to keep going.
With all of that said, I want you all to also remember to always protect yourself by adhering to the guidelines and restrictions set in place to help us overcome this deadly pandemic. Remember to wear your masks, sanitise and maintain a social distance from others. Take your vaccines if you haven’t already, and if you’re having doubts about said vaccines, do your research and understand that you can be a risk for those around you—think about them. Many of us will still be grieving after all of this is over. Even after the virus is extinct, after the airports are fully opened, and masks are no longer needed—we will always remember the things and people we’ve lost. Healing starts now, but it will always be a continuous journey. I am still trying to find a light and meaning in the midst of it all, and I hope you can do the same.
