The Little Things

Written by: Divyansh Agrawal

Edited by: Karyn Sethi

It’s funny how just a bunch of molecules can get the entire Earth to stop working the way it used to. SARS-CoV-2 came into our lives more than a year ago and is still not ready to leave. Where we used to think it’s weird to see people wearing masks in malls, we now find it terrifying to see someone without a mask. In the 4th grade, I heard the proverb “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”. Only now do I realize what that actually means.

We’ve all lost so much to COVID-19. So much that we’ve forgotten what happiness feels like. That perfect day that used to end happily now ends all gloomy. The children playing in the park are stuck at home. The boy who used to come to school only to see his crush can’t see her anymore because she keeps her camera off during online classes. The gardener who smiled at you everyday is not seen anymore because he lost his job. The late-night parties you had with your friends are all gone. Your most awaited day, graduation, has been cancelled. There’s no prom and all that time you waited to ask your crush out, is now gone. You’ve seen more death now than you ever did in your life. Anxiety and fear cripple you at 3 am in the night. Despite all that, you’re alive.

Amidst all this, I feel like we’ve learnt so much during the pandemic. We’re so busy looking down that we forget to look at the rainbows in the sky. We need to look up. As for me, I’ve realized that I’ve started to appreciate the little things. I’ve learnt how to find happiness in small moments. I’ve learnt that happiness shouldn’t be materialistic. You must have realized it too. We’d all become so used to comfort that we’d forgotten about the luxury we’re living in. Yes, we have our problems. Everyone does, but we’re alive. We get to see a new day and we’re among those people who will lecture our kids about the pandemic every time they talk about how hard their life is.

We’d go to malls every weekend. Have a cup of coffee at Starbucks and eat popcorn while watching the movie that everyone’s talking about. How often does that happen now? Well, it’s been more than a year for me. Going to the mall used to be a normal thing, but now it’s what lights up my eyes.

I’ve never spent this much time with my family before. But now, we’re closer than ever. And I only have COVID-19 to thank. The little things. That’s what COVID-19 helped me appreciate. Meeting my friends seems 100x more fun now. Seeing their faces gives me happiness that I’d never imagined I’d get.

Going out for a walk in the meadows gives me joy. The windy weather gives me joy. The dancing trees give me joy. The moving clouds give me joy. Seeing ripples in the lake gives me joy. The other day, I accompanied my mom for her vaccination. We’d just gone straight to the center and come back. But the journey, the journey gave me such happiness that I’m smiling (and I hope you are too!) as I’m writing this. It’d rained the night before and the weather was cool. The clouds gave shade to the sun and the sky was greyish white. We’d put our windows down the entire journey. The wind hit our faces, but it felt good. Feeling our hair fly gave us pleasure. Like I said, the little things.

I don’t know what the future holds. I have no idea about what’s going to happen. But I feel that if I smile my way through, I might just end up enjoying it a bit more.