We have all met people who, although they are over 40, 50, 60, seem to have something young in them. I don’t know, there’s something in their eyes, something on their faces, that makes them convey that their spirit is young, that they are full of energy. These people have plans for the future, they like to travel, they have passions of all kinds, they take risks, they are not afraid to experience various things. It seems that they live life, not life live them.

But there are also people who, despite the age in their ID card, seem old. They rarely rejoice, they do not allow themselves much passions, they do not manifest themselves much, they avoid crying of positive emotion, to take any risk. They seem to keep the real life moments for later, just as my grandmother kept the silk dresses for very special occasions. They remained there after she died, unworn. Life passes over these people, they are passive, they participate as others would go on the shards: with great care, not to spoil anything for them.

Today I saw a man I have known for several years and who was part of the first category. Today it seemed completely different. I haven’t seen him in about 6 months, time in which something has left its mark on him visibly. The tall, athletic man with a charismatic face seemed resigned, placid, as if he had abandoned himself to him. Still very elegant, but his spirit was no longer there, as if he had lost it.

I think this period of pandemic can have such an effect on us. We blame ourselves, we retire, we isolate ourselves from the world, we hide our fears, inertia, lack of initiative behind the service, we no longer develop any passion, we leave everything for later. This later risks finding us past, without the spark in our eyes, without dreams, without power, with a blazing that is hard to fix.

The good news is that we have the key. How do we do that?

It’s not easy, but it’s not like brain surgery either. Here are some ideas:

  • Let’s not isolate ourselves from others, even if we are tempted, even if it is the path of least resistance, even if the fear of the virus dominates us. We are all in the same situation. Let’s keep almost all of our acquaintances close.
  • Let’s leave time in our day for something other than work. That’s what a person who works hard says. Let’s read, watch movies, go for a walk, learn something new, listen to music, run, I don’t know, each with its own preferences.
  • Let’s get involved in something else, besides work, a cause that is higher, more soulful.
  • Let’s keep the family close – children, siblings, parents; everything is so fragile now, it can change so quickly that it would be a shame to risk living with regrets all our lives.
  • Let’s allow ourselves to eat what we like, to drink, from time to time, a glass of a very good wine, to stay for stories until we get exhausted.
  • Let’s make sure we enjoy ourselves when we meet ourselves in the mirror. Not in a narcissistic way, but like on a plane: you put on your first oxygen mask.

When we get out of this state, when we see each other again and we can do a lot together, we will have energy and zest for life because we kept the flame burning.