Pride and Joy

Undoubtedly, any job, profession or trade requires its occupants to be dedicated and passionate in not only what they do, but in understanding why they do it. That mind-set ought to apply to any job, be it before you think of taking it up or throughout its execution after you’ve settled in quite well. In any normal circumstance, what’s expected of you is being professional and diligent in fulfilling the obligations that come with your job, and its normality which is also at the crux of it all.  The same can’t be said however for when that normality changes, and the dynamic of you going about doing you duty is altered, together with how others perceive it.

In terms of normalities, all that the world needed for things to become quite abnormal was (and you probably guessed it) a pandemic. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has proven to have a direct impact on people’s lives in more ways than one, be it whole families having to isolate themselves due the self-quarantine aimed at combatting the spread of the virus, the social distancing of two metres which people were expected to carry out, and the mass closure of several public facilities such as restaurant, gyms, cinemas etc. People’s everyday routines came to an abrupt halt as their lives had to adjust to a ‘new normal’ as it has been so aptly described. In terms of maintaining and managing the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, that responsibility quickly fell on the shoulders of the relevant authorities present in Malta, these namely being doctors, nurses, medical professionals, police officers, civil protection officials, and all other such experts involved in these sectors. In light of the seriousness of the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, these professions have been undoubtedly pushed to the frontline in relation to combatting the consequences of the coronavirus, and certainly even more so than usual in terms of the working conditions which they usually face.

As expected, and rightly so, the praise heaped onto these respective professions has almost been constant ever since the outbreak began leaving its mark on Malta, as I have already described. Amongst its many impacts, this pandemic has undoubtedly made many reflect on what to appreciate in life, and not to take things for granted, things such as aspects of our everyday routine, our family, friends, loved ones, and the other people who we may come across, but never really take any notice of. These same people could very well include those putting their lives on the line to save ours and keep us safe. Of course, a well-deserved thank you for these people out of courtesy, is not just the proper thing to do; it’s the right thing to do. Whilst this response is certainly warranted, it shouldn’t just be kept for times of crises, but for when things are calm and blissful as well, and were things aren’t being overshadowed by a specific set of circumstances and are relatively normal.

If this pandemic should teach us anything, it’s that we didn’t need a pandemic to teach us these lessons in the first place. We shouldn’t need a pandemic to say thank you to police officers; they keep a vigilant eye over our towns and villages every day. We shouldn’t need a pandemic to say thank you to doctors and nurses; they take care of the sick of the vulnerable at any time of day. We shouldn’t need a pandemic to say thank you to journalists keeping us updated with the latest news and information; they do this with the developments taking place throughout the whole year. We shouldn’t need a pandemic to say thank you to anyone, because we don’t need abnormality to appreciate those who matter the most to us.

Written by: Jacob Callus