Hey there !

How are you and how have you been coping with happenings in the past weeks?
I am fine and believe like me,you are trying to make sense of everything going on all around the world at present😊.

So,we were officially addressed by presidoo yesterday and in summary,we have now been locked down for the next 14 days🙆‍♀️ This is effective from today, 30th March from 11pm.

While I have somewhat expected this to happen,the reality of this is now fully clear to me. We have in the past 2 weeks,especially since the first case of the Covid -19 virus in Abuja was announced,tried to stay home.

However,this is somewhat different and has a certain ring to it that makes me somewhat jittery. Before now,self isolating and staying home was a matter of choice and we could still go out if it was necessary to do so.

This official lockdown which will be going on In the FCT,Lagos and Ogun State is not voluntary or done on discretion. No! This one is ‘you musto siddon for ya house’😥

After the kids went to bed,I started thinking to myself,how did we get here? What happened? In less than 2 weeks,life as we know it has completely changed.Should Nigeria as a country not have been better prepared to handle this thing? Should our healthcare system not have been given priority over the years?

I then thought about it some more,should our borders not have been closed and travel ban put in place after we had the first Index case in the country? Should we not have responded better as a people?

I then came to the conclusion that there were too many “should haves”. We have blamed the president,we have blamed our leaders,they are guilty by their actions or inaction.

However,Corona Virus is now here with us and it is now spreading like wildfire.This virus has proved to us more than ever that we are mere mortals and it has exposed to us once more how frail we really are.

The lock down seems like the end of the world for some people,some are worried about food,availability of electricity,the bills that have to be paid despite everything, money and the different concerns we all have running through our minds.

Our lives have been affected and things are not just quite the same,the hugs we took for granted,the kisses we took for granted,the high fives,the huddling together and whispering. The weekend owambe parties,even our religious gatherings have been affected.

We have all now become just a little more paranoid,suspecting each other,looking out for sniffles,the cold,catarrh and cough that was ‘normal’ for us has suddenly become a thing of suspicion.

Our kids can no longer go outside and run with the neighbours’ kids. The fever that we sometimes just chalk up to malaria is now a cause for worry.

Everything is just not the same but together we truly can beat this. By staying home for the 14 days as announced by government. By taking all precautionary measures. By self isolating and protecting the next person.

The days ahead may look long and without hope. But there is hope. There is always something to be thankful for. It may not be clear now but it will be in due course.

Please check on your friends and loved ones. Not everyone has the mental capacity to handle a 14day lock down. Take out time to call,text and send messages to people.

Do a random act of kindness to someone,encourage someone and reach out to fill whatever need you can help them fill. We need each other.

There is light at the end of the tunnel,stay home and put the two weeks to good use,get to know your kids,rekindle the spark in your marriage. Work out,read,and learn a skill. Rest and pray;pray for yourself,pray for your loved ones,pray for Nigeria. God will see us through this difficult time.

Remember, weeping may last through the night but joy comes in the morning.

This too shall pass…😊🥰

Love,

Yetunde

Image Credit: Ona Images.