Essay on the Mountain of Human Civilization: Slow Growth and Unexpected Changes

If I were asked to find a metaphor to describe the evolution of human civilization, I would compare it to the formation of a mountain: it is a very slow and complicated process the results of which can be clearly seen only from a perspective of centuries. Wind and water work hard to shape the silhouette of the mountain. But sometimes within several hours, only everything can change due to an unexpected landslide, a rockfall or a volcano eruption. In our history, the COVID-19 pandemic has become one of such events. It has changed our civilization forever: after the pandemic ends, the world will not be the same. "We are facing a human crisis unlike any we have experienced," said UN Deputy-Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, adding that "social fabric and cohesion is under stress" (as cited in Alessi, 2020). Indeed, the pandemic has not only been an economic and global health challenge, but it has also completely changed the way people communicate and see the world. I am not an exception. The time spent staying at home isolated during the quarantine has made me rethink my values and aspirations. My priorities and primary life goals have changed, my focus has moved inwards, and I have started to see the notion of "luxury" in terms of well-being and happiness rather than financial prosperity.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Before the Coronavirus outbreak I used to live an ordinary life preaching the values that are quite traditional for modern society. The three most important things in my life were education, career, and family. I believed that they were the three pillars that held the foundation of a happy and fulfilled life. Family has always been important to me. The family bonds help an individual stay rooted and strong in all kinds of challenging situations. The support that your family can give you is hard to overestimate. Education is the most valuable asset one can have to achieve success in life. It not only turns a young person into a professional but also provides a toolkit essential for the productive life which includes critical thinking and research skills, media literacy, ability to think outside-the-box and readiness to work in a team. Finally, a successful career was a priority to me because it allows you to realize your full potential and earn money you can use to make your dreams come true. So, before the Coronavirus changed the social landscape of the planet and locked most of us at home, I had quite usual and predictable life goals. I wanted to finish my studies and make a lot of money. But I also aspired to live a pro-active life helping others. I cannot say that these things do not matter to me anymore. On the contrary, I do think that the family, good education and successful career are essential values. But my focus has certainly shifted significantly.

During the Coronavirus lockdown I have had a real opportunity to slow down and reflect on my worldview, my life priorities, and the way they have changed since the dramatic turn of this pandemic. When you do not go outside on a daily basis you have fewer opportunities to compare yourself with other individuals. You realize that there are things you do not really need and want, but your consumerist consciousness makes you crave them. Clothes and devices make you feel good because you are no worse than others. You keep comparing and thinking about the reactions of others. The social mask that you are wearing every day - in your real and virtual life - matter much more to you than your true needs and wishes. Once you realize that you are not the master of your own life anymore you get an opportunity to change your way of life. So, during this pandemic, I understood that I want to take ownership of my own life. I am responsible for the decisions I am making and the money I am spending. In fact, I realized that I do not really need to buy so many items to feel good. Now my focus is on living a simple life and making myself happy.

Being happy is one of the survival strategies for those who want to stay sane during the COVID-19 quarantine. This is why I have made it one of my priorities. But I have also realized that quite simple things can make me happy. Communication is one of the daily essentials, so, I value every opportunity to talk to my friends and relatives on the phone or via Skype. Hearing the voices of people close to me and exchanging news with them make me feel normal. I also derive profound pleasure from reading and watching movies. Books and films are a perfect way to travel without leaving the confines of your home. A good book allows you to live somebody else's life, sometimes profoundly different from yours. A good movie teaches you to see the world through somebody else's eyes. And changing a perspective is always useful! I have also changed my attitude toward food and other details of ordinary life. When you are rushing through your days with a hoist of deadlines weighing down on you, there is very little chance that you will notice the taste of the dish you are eating or the delicate aroma of the coffee you are drinking. Now, I am trying to live a mindful life being aware of the present moment. So, I focus on what I am doing and profoundly enjoy it.

It is not a coincidence that under the conditions of the quarantine more than 2 million students have started attending an online course "The Science of Wellbeing" developed and taught by Professor Laurie Santos from Yale University (Kretchmer, 2020). The focus of the course is on practicing mindfulness and helping others in these dark times. I do believe that mindfulness allows me to stay happy even when I know that the forecasts are not that optimistic yet. And I also think that helping others is an essential ingredient of being a happy and fulfilled individual. But the Coronavirus outbreak has also made me realize that my own health should be my priority and primary responsibility. To be able to take care of others you need to stay healthy and sane. So, I do think that charity should start at home.

As far as I know now, the Coronavirus outbreak is bound to have a lasting impact on my priorities in life. I have realized that my physical health and mental well-being are the foundations of all the other priorities. When you are healthy and optimistic, you can move mountains, you learn better, are more creative and pro-active. So, to be able to take care of your family, study and work effectively, you need to prioritize your own health and happiness. It has nothing to do with selfishness. Moreover, it is a responsible attitude that everyone should adopt.

All these considerations have made me rethink my personal idea of "luxury." Before the Coronavirus outbreak I believed that the idea of "luxury" was built around financial success. Luxury products are expensive products. More often than not they are also of very high quality. So, "luxury" meant for me expensive cars, designer clothes, gold jewelry and splendid houses by the ocean. Under the conditions of the quarantine, these things are still expensive and valuable, but they are not "luxury" items anymore. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "luxury" as "something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary" ("Luxury"). I have realized that I can live without spending time with my friends and face-to-face classes, but without them, my life is not as pleasant and comfortable as it used to be. So, now, communication is a luxury for me.

The pandemic of COVID-19 is one of the greatest disasters that humanity has faced, and yet, it has also given us an unprecedented opportunity to change the way we live and think. It has taught me to value the simple things and to be more responsible in terms of my own health and well-being. I realized that I want to be the master of my own life rather than a puppet in the consumerist theatre. And, I hope, this will help me in the future to become a happy, productive and fulfilled individual.

References

Alessi, C. (2020, April 8). 'All hands should be on deck' - key quotes from leaders on the fight against COVID-19. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/covid-19-action-call-8-apr/

Kretchmer, H. (2020, April 21). A professor of happiness explains how to deal with COVID-19. Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/coronavirus-covid19-science-of-wellbeing-yale-advice/

Luxury. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/luxury