I’m sure this year has been a rough one for many, myself included. I felt like towards the end of 2020, we were all hopeful of a better 2021, that the pandemic will be controlled once the rollout of vaccines were done. Who knew Covid had more patterns than badminton.
As we head into the last few days of 2021, we’re again faced with the possibility of the new strain Omicron taking over the world, and once again threatening the fragile travel lanes that only recently popped up. Every year seems like a reset year, and 2022 looks no different than how 2021 has played out.
Annual vaccination to be able to do basic things
It seems like right now, the only winners are the big pharma boys, with their guaranteed revenue from governments around the world as they order the vaccines in the truckloads. Vaccination statuses will now expire even though you’re double jabbed, and will likely require a booster shot every 9 to 12 months in order to retain the vaccination status to do basic stuff like going to the mall and eating out.
I’ve been pro vaccination from the start, but am slowly getting tired of it all.
Is there a chance that Omicron proves to be the leveler to make it endemic? Highly transmissible but hardly threatening? Sure, but it also seems equally likely to spawn new variants that ultimately evolve into a zombie virus that kills us all. After all, if there are a multiversal possibilities of variants, then it must be rational that in one of them lie… zombies.
Mental wellbeing
Actually, if I think hard about it, it’s not that difficult of a situation right now. We’re more or less open with social distancing measures (which if I’m being honest, is kinda nice, since I hate crowds and jostling with people on the street), we’re able to travel if we’re willing to take the risk and uncertainty of sudden closures or additional measures put in place.
It’s just the overall unease of the global situation, and all the uncertainties in place. Like we’re building on a house of cards, on a beach, with the weatherman predicting strong winds.
Jobs
One of the biggest uncertainties I faced over the last 2 years was on the jobs front. I left Citibank in December of 2019, pretty confident of getting a role in the near future (haha!), especially since I had conversations lined up, and a pipeline of 2 to 3 potential roles forming up over 2020.
Covid sprung, and quickly changed that. The headcounts were put on hold, and many other jobs withered away as companies rightly hunkered down on the global shutdown.
For a long while, I was relying on consultancy stints and contract positions that ebbed and flowed. With 2 kids and a mortgage, it was simply a nightmare scenario to be in. I’m normally not an emotional person, but this had definitely added a big level of stress over the last 2 years.
I’m finally in a better place in terms of job stability now, but at a much lower salary level than before.
Of course, having said all that, I’m still in a much better position than many others, who may have seen their businesses shut down in an instant after years of building it up, or perhaps been stuck in another country, unable to be with family.
Kids
It’s weird seeing your kids grow up in the midst of Covid. My younger boy was barely 3 when Covid started, and before you know it, he’s gonna celebrate his 5th birthday. Oli, my older boy, transitioned from pre-school to primary school, and is looking forward to P2 in the coming year.
It was surreal, and in some ways, felt like both lost time as well as earned time.
Lost time in the sense of being unable to go out much as a family and experience the outdoors and holidays. But also some earned time from everyone being forced to stay home and study from home.
It must be even stranger from their perspective, suddenly stripped from what was a normal life, and plunged into a strict regime of masks, handwashing, and classes without really knowing your classmates.
Looking ahead to 2022
I remember coming into 2021 full of hope, so I’m probably hesitant to do the same for 2022. But I’m hoping the trend toward normalcy continues, and everyone emerges out of 2022 happier, healthier and more hopeful.
Well, time, and life, goes on, regardless of whether we want them to or not. So, let’s leap into 2022 and start the year on a positive mental attitude.
How did your 2021 go, and what are your wishes for 2022?