THANK YOU

“There is salvation for faltering on any virtue, but not for ingratitude.”

Thirukkural (Translated from tamil; Chapter 11: gratitude)

My father would often quote from the above book to drive in his point while having conversations. Point noted dad. My musings these days do not venture beyond the lessons of the corona times. In my last post, I spoke of the lessons this tiny virus is teaching the world. I felt I needed to write separately on a very important duty which we all are bound as humans to perform. To say “Thank You”.

“Thank you” is a very small word but with a sea of meaning in it. We go through life putting in a lot of energy and time on our loved ones with the mental assurance that they will stand by us in our difficult time. However life is such, that when we need help the most complete strangers turn life savers and we cannot say anything more than a “thank you” to them.

Dual edged sword

My blog post today is an ode to all those who are giving us hope to move on. I call them corona warriors. These people they are fighting not just the disease outside but the emotional effects of this insane situation within themselves also.  Every single day I am reading reports of health workers who have succumbed to the disease while treating. Their place left empty, in the hearts of their loved ones, never to be filled again. For me, they are akin to soldiers who lose there lives in war defending their country.

 I penned a poem after reading the experience penned by a junior doctor with NHS ( I hope you get to read this post) . I don’t know her name but she is a nameless faceless warrior for me. Just like so many of them out there. I am no poet, yet as I sat reading her account I could not help but pen these few lines. It’s a humble and a sincere attempt to get the focus of the world on the emotional toll this is taking on the healthcare workers every single day.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FRONTLINE WORKER

She died in the last bed,

A study in silent prayer

Remembering her family

Eyes haunted with despair

*

My lens got foggy

As I stood be(d)side

Realizing too late perhaps,

Can’t afford this emotional ride

*

“Ah! this just got free”

Signaled my colleague

My heart in a wrench, knowing

It’s for a machine

And not the dead being

*

I want to scream

At the injustice of life

At the god she prayed to

At the despondency now alive

*

Its gone past midnight

Got to trudge home

Having cast aside, this blue armor

Lying so heavy on my soul

*

I knew not why

I chose this lifestory

Was it the lure of titles?

Or the misleading allure of personal glory

*

Tonight, peace will elude me

The relentless fight within

No medical book can answer

The inherent dilemma therein

*

Tomorrow is yet another day

I need to brace

Donning my blue suit

With humility and grace

*

Knowing it’s not over

Until the last hope is alive

What if, One soul is lost

There are many more yet to arrive,

*

However, I realize

The title “Dr” has costed me dear

sold my soul to the devil?

With death so near

*

With every breath so precious

I know I‘ll be saying soon

“This just got free”

Probably to save another soul ..

..probably to save another soul.

Dedicated to all front line health workers who every single day are relentlessly fighting the fight both outside and within. God bless you all.

A small notes of thanks

A small note of thank you to multitude of people involved in the war whose names are probably not mentioned frequently enough…….

Thank you to all the doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, ambulance service personnel, technicians of various units , lab personnel, pharmacist and therapist at all hospital/ makeshift treatment units.

Thank you to all the police personnel out there manning the roads, ensuring lock down, ensuring law of land is followed, supervising sterilization programs as its being done here in UAE, tracing and identifying the chain of carriers link and their supporting staff at the call centers.

Thank you to all the small and big shop owners and basic service providers right from the milkman to the security personnel at the gate. Entire food supply chain members. To those providing their services without charge or fear of their own lives.To the health ministry personnel of various countries. This caught them totally unaware as well, but they still are, fighting.

To the factory workers who have to produce at relentless speed the ppe items, disinfectants, medicines, hospital supplies

To all those who have donated funds or their time in contact tracing, or their expertise in translation of language or volunteered for support and rescue operations. I know several dentists too who are doing their bit. There are those caring for homeless people on the road. Those who have not forgotten stray animals on the street.

Wow ! Seems like a long list. But still I am sure I have missed many many more.

So, if you thought you had no one to thank, you were wrong.  We are all part of a big machinery. One cannot survive without the other.

If you know someone who has in anyway served for the betterment of this corona afflicted world, kindly share with them and

“TELL THEM YOU DEDICATE THIS TO THEM”

God bless us all

“Vasudhaiva kutumbakam” ( translated from Sanskrit : the world is one family )