‘Coronavirus will change our lives, but it will not defeat us’

I am awake. It’s 4:30am on a Saturday morning, or is it Friday or Sunday. In these trying times, it’s hard to distinguish one day from the next.

Coronavirus is holding the world to ransom. I am seeing social media posts laying blame. The universe is sad. The universe is angry.

I wash my face and hands. My hands cringe in protest pain. I look at the skin, which is paper thin. It is red and blotchy. I have washed my hands so many times, they object. Even moisturising creams are doing little to help.

The kettle is boiling and I pour my coffee. It’s still dark as I gaze out the window. There is a light on in the house across the road. I smile as I know it means the two toddlers in that house are awake, much to their mum’s frustration. It is dark and quiet in the street otherwise.

I hear a slight noise behind me and turn to see my little dog looking up at me. As soon as I acknowledge her, she rushes forward and jumps all over me. It’s the same thing every day. Covid-19 has not changed the morning rituals.

It is autumn in Australia. As the light reaches the sky, I open the door and wonder at all the pink and orange. The gum trees three blocks from where I live stand tall and proud, silhouetted against the background. I can hear so many birds. The chirping — loud, soft and so different in their sounds — indicate that the feathered population is also waking. They know nothing of the virus, they sound so melodic.

I live alone, so my social media goes on early. I am so grateful for the many friends I have across the country and the world. I will become bored or apprehensive and know that the trivial things I share will not make my friends angry at me. They might roll their eyes in silence, but they will still be there for me as I will be for them.

Across the globe, there are hundreds of thousands like me. Some are waking, some ready for sleep, all being affected in some way by this health emergency.

I think back to a time when social media did not exist. We are not the first to experience epidemics. Those who have gone before us suffered too, from plagues to viruses and beyond. Wars and terror, it’s all been there before us. We are lucky for social media because, even though there are some negatives, we can use it to stand together. We can help others, we can understand better, that others will be there for us and we can be united.

Coronavirus will change our lives, but it will not defeat us. Today, we will exercise on home equipment or in our back yards. We will play more with our children and our pets. We will hopefully contact others and be contacted by others, just for a little extra support.

We will not feel sorry for ourselves, because we are Australians, we are brave and fierce and compassionate. We will in time, remember this and remember those who lost their lives to this virus and we will know that we are stronger, perhaps wiser and more loving.

We will know that we have survived as those who survived before us and will survive after us. We will spread love and again be lifted by the sunrise and the chirping of birds, by the wagging of a dog’s tail or just by the smile from a stranger.

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