YOU DID IT

BY DIANA MARIE

BY DIANA MARIE

Gosh. What a year it has been. 2020 is a year for the history books. Which memories from this momentous year will we be talking about to future generations?

How was it for you?

This news shocked me. In late February of 2020, The World Health Organization increased its risk assessment of the novel coronavirus to its highest level. The virus, first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019, had by that point spread to dozens of countries, killing more than 500,000 people (John Hopkins University of Medicine, Coronavirus Resource Centre).

The novel coronavirus has put much of the world on hold. People were asked to avoid crowds and limit their travel. Air travel scaled back dramatically. The use of face masks has become ubiquitous in many countries. Many governments including us in Sarawak have issued stay-at-home orders. Many of the State Civil Service employees began the new normal of working remotely. Undoubtedly there were day when what’s left behind was an eerie silence and emptiness.

For Malaysia it all began in March when the whole country, every single person was told to stay home, it was the only way to stay safe. That was the beginning of the Movement Control Order.

Was I afraid? Of course. How long will this go on? That was the question I had, apart from the day-to-day fear of the danger of COVID-19 itself. When will I see my parents again? Will I be able to travel and see other parts of the world again?

Yes, MCO ended, three months later.

As the world is reshaped by COVID-19, it is clear that this will be a year for historians to make sense of. How will people tell the story of the tumultuous times that we’re living in today? One thing for sure, with coronavirus isolation, digital media has become enormously important for our interactions with colleagues, friends and loved ones. In a matter of weeks, the pandemic turned video conferencing into the backbone of our lives and it was not just for work. The New York Times explained that Zoom’s daily meeting participants in the United States went from 10 million in December to 300 million in April and citizens scrolled through social media feeds before bed. “The virus changed the way we internet.”

I would like to share with you, thoughts from an article I read, written by a physician cum blogger Dr Christina Lau which talks about impacts from the pandemic and 2020 in general. If anything, perhaps these are some life lessons to take away from 2020.

We often think of each community as a separate entity and being very different from one another. Within a few months the virus spread to nearly every state and country, and a global pandemic was declared. Despite the differences and distance between places, we are battling the same virus and having the same struggles. It is a reminder of just how our economy and society are interconnected on many levels, including supply chains, communications, technology, and travel.

2. Humans are social beings, and we need social interaction and human contact.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of social interaction and human contact within almost every aspect of our lives, including education, employment, entertainment, and recreation. Efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, including physical distancing, quarantine, and stay-at-home orders, have prompted and exacerbated social isolation and loneliness. This pandemic has made me realize how much many of us miss social interaction and things as simple as a hug or just coffee with a friend at the café.

3. There is goodness and humanity, even in the hard times.

At the start of the pandemic, there was a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) among hospitals and health care facilities, and many health care workers were reusing the same disposable mask for days or weeks at a time. Immediately, community members gathered together to procure masks, 3D print face shields, and hand sew masks and scrub caps for health care workers. Restaurants were donating food to hospital workers and first responders. And people were volunteering to bring groceries to the elderly. These acts of kindness and appreciation from the community has helped many frontline workers going, working day after day during the pandemic.

If you are fortunate to have opportunity, it is your duty to make sure other people have those opportunities as well.

- Kamala Harris -

4. Life is valuable.

Be grateful for what we have. The pandemic has made many of us re-think our priorities and remember how precious life is. It has been a reminder to appreciate the smaller things in life, the things often taken for granted.

With so many deaths each day, I am grateful for my family and friends, even if it means video calls and text messages while we cannot see each other in-person.

With so many people falling ill, I am grateful for my health.

With so many people losing jobs and becoming homeless, I am grateful for the food in my fridge and a place to call home.

2020 has really been a challenging year in more ways than one, this has been a tough year, but it could have been, worse.

For all serving the State in one way or another, it is an Honour to Serve and endeavour to Make a Difference to our Society and State. Stay safe.

DIANA MARIE Diana Marie is a team member at the Leadership Institute of Sarawak Civil Service attached with Corporate Affairs who found love in reading and writing whilst discovering inspiration in Leadership that Makes a Difference.