You are never alone, even when alone

As soon as I tested positive for Covid last November, I locked myself up in my room. Being the first one in the family to be infected, I recall how concerned everyone was. Initially, I kept thinking about where I may have caught the infection as I had been as careful as I could be.

Perhaps it was at the park where I walked with little Eaa – an Indi pup I had adopted a few months prior. Being a dog lover and having been involved in rescuing and feeding community dogs for years, it’s hard to let them miss their walks. Or was it…. Anyway, this was no time for speculation.

The illness called for a pragmatic approach. So even though I was confined to my bedroom, my thoughts were for my 93-year-old mother-in-law and my husband both of whom have co-morbidities. Of course, I was worried about my grown-up son too. I was very worried about them until their tests came and all were negative.

The first few days were dark and gloomy. I was lonely. After all, it was around Diwali time. And I turned symptomatic with mild fever and throat ache just before the festival. Soon after I informed my brother and other family members not to visit us. Caution was the better part of valor.

There were other issues though which weighed more heavily and added to the woes. There was no one to cook. So the chore fell on my mother-in-law till my daughter started coming to drop food at our doorstep. Then friends started taking turns. All this support eased part of my worry.

Still, how did I manage to spend more than a fortnight or 17 days to be precise, cooped up in one room, is something I don’t understand today!

Sometimes I would look out the window and observe my neighbour who lives about 50 feet away. Occasionally, she would smile and wave and just that simple gesture would lift my spirits.

Some days I took to knitting and hours flew by. I knitted for my then to-be-born grand-daughter and gradually it became a therapeutic process. At least it was way better than watching TV till late night - which I had been doing initially. The nights were empty because I was used to being with family and I missed all of them terribly. But then knitting came in handy.

I also decided to take charge of my fitness and began practicing yoga and doing meditation regularly. Now, I even have a message for those in isolation or have just tested positive. They must remember to have garbage disposal bags - small ones. It is also wise to have keep an electric kettle so you do not disturb others whenever you feel having tea, coffee or hot water. Keep some dry fruits with you. They are excellent fillers as snacks and healthier than other refined or packaged foods. I kept munching them in addition to my regular food. And most importantly, have your gratitude card flashed every second.

As I settled into the new normal, I began to compose myself and began to think of ways that I could contribute to the industry I was a part of – the tourism industry, one of the worst hit industries during this time.

I am now associated with Madhouse to Mudhouse - a community initiative of Green People which promotes rural and eco-tourism. Madhouse to Mudhouse is a growing community of rural changemakers, community facilitators, artists and skilled professionals working jointly to make a positive difference to the Indian rural ecosystem, while transforming their own lives in the process.

But since tourism overall is going to take a long time to get revived, I also decided to diversify into a new area and after a lot of brainstorming and research, we decided to start a wellness startup to promote superfoods and holistic health called Vitality Club. (Instagram: @vitalityclub.in) This was something that came out while I was inside.

Today, Vitality Club is a testimony of how I fought Covid and, our mission is to build a community around the core idea of vitality - i.e., the exuberant energy stemming from a life of balance. We envision our brand to not just be a source of high-quality foods and beverages but also services that lead to overall wellness. While we have started our journey with teas and are planning to introduce a number of other products such as cereals, millets, coffee and other natural drinks, we are ultimately positioning ourselves as a one-stop-shop for all things related to vitality.

The restless me who could never sit idle thought of doing something to motivate myself and others. I also started my YouTube Channel on Motivational Life coaching! Being married for 35 plus years, and having to deal with family issues after passing away of my entire immediate family, I had developed the art of counselling. So, thought to put it to better use!

I believe ‘It’s never too late to learn or start anything’ and to ‘Never say never’. There is plenty you can do even when isolated. You are alone but never alone!