The pandemic has made us all appreciate so much of our life from before 2020. It has been so long that I have almost forgotten what life was like pre-pandemic. Here are some things that this pandemic has made me appreciate –
Airport Experience
I MISS AIRPORTS! I miss getting on a flight every month! I miss the long baggage drop queues. I miss being pushed and shoved in the boarding queue. I miss all the anxiety that would riddle me before the security check (yeah, I’m on of those weirdos who freaks out that security will find weed or a gun in my bag – even though I don’t have either). I miss buying overpriced coffee just to post a photo of it on Instagram. I miss taking 1000s of blurry photos of the sky. I miss sitting next to a loud snorer and not being able to sleep throughout the flight. I miss the flight attendant accidentally spilling my beverage on me. I miss freaking out about my phone running out of battery before I reach my destination. So much new found appreciation for the whole flying shebang.
Missing travel? Checkout Travomania’s travel blog here.
Weekend Plans
I miss my friends making weekend plans with me WAY in advance and me agreeing to those plans knowing very well that when Saturday rolls in, I’m not going to want to change out of my PJs to go out. I miss the dread that would fill me as time flew by on Saturday and the time quickly approached for me to start getting ready. I miss waiting for my friends to call me and cancel the plan. I miss those moments where I’d painfully write down a message giving a generic reason for bailing (yet again). I miss the relief that would wash over me after right as I’d press send! I miss my friends being pissed at me for days and yet making plans with me for another weekend.
Wondering if I am a total weirdo? Know more about my quirks here.
Public Transport
I miss rushing through thousands of sweaty, smelly people to get to the platform and manage to squeeze into the extremely overcrowded Mumbai local (train). I miss begging auto drivers to drop me home during the heavy rains of Mumbai (read as floods). I miss being stuck for hours in traffic listening to almost every song on my very long Spotify playlist before getting to work. I miss the Uber driver sharing his life story with me after a late night of partying. I miss being literally carried off by the throngs of people de-boarding the local train at my station. *sigh* Those were some adventure filled days.
Read more about my Mumbai days here.
Meeting New People
I am socially awkward and an introvert, so most of my first interactions with people are meme worthy! I miss tugging awkwardly on my clothes while staring at my feet while someone new tries to break the ice with me. I miss whipping out my phone in the office elevator to avoid having to talk to the people in there with me. I miss awkwardly removing my earphones on realizing that the person next to me on my commute is trying to talk to me. I miss avoiding eye contact with that colleague in the cafeteria so that I don’t have to do small talk. I miss putting on my RBF every time my friends forced me to interact with their other friends. I miss my RBF so bad – I’ve had NO use of it in the past 1 year!
Wondering what is RBF? Read my post about assumptions people have about me to know more.
Face Masks*
Remember when you had to make an effort to put on make-up and look presentable before stepping out of the house? But hey, who cares now? It’s not like anyone’s going to recognize you from under that double mask. Saves SO much valuable time. Looking like an addict who hasn’t slept in 10 days? Don’t worry – your face mask will mask it for you. Breaking out? Don’t worry the mask will help you cover it up and break you out even more (mask acne!). Bad breath? You aren’t even going to be able to breathe forget anyone being able to tell if you have bad breath! New make up launches? Save all your money – it isn’t like they have invented mask proof foundation!
Want to know how the pandemic impacted lives in India and South Africa? Read my collab post with Lebogang here.
If it isn’t obvious yet – this is a parody post! With India back in lockdown – I’m trying to desperately look for some humour in the situation. What are some things that this pandemic made you appreciate more? Wrong answers only! 😀
*PS: I genuinely do appreciate face masks. Please wear masks before stepping out of the safety of your house if your country is still grappling with coronavirus. Please ensure your mask covers your nose and mouth. It has proven to be more effective to double mask! Wearing your mask below your nose is not effective. (reiterating this because people are still doing this)
Read my other latest posts and show them some love –
Happy Panda 
Yeah dear… Every moment’s worth before pandemic are now really being missed alot!!! Hope we fight back and win… Stay safe💖💖 great post👏🏻💖
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I miss birthday parties. I miss going to the mall. I miss going to the movies. And yes I miss putting on a nice lipstick and not worry about messing it up behind my mask. It’s been a year of covid but it feels like 10 years have passed. And the situation in our country is particularly worse. I loved your post. You stole the words out my mouth. 🥺
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At the beginning I was not able to wear the face mask and now I even forget to remove it when I’m reaching home 😷
I guess this pandemic changed our life forever! Stay safe! 🌸💕
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The little things we ignored are now hopes we can’t capture. Great post ❤
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Haha bailing out is so relatable, like I planed it for weeks but when the moment arrives, now I just don’t wanna go 😅 😫 like why ??
RBF honestly I keep thinking about it, since I read that in your blog, like I was doing this whole my existence but never knew what to name it and now I have a name😂😂😂😂
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I freak out at airports so much -I hate security, I almost always feel they will find something on me even though I am not carrying with me. I swear I behave so suspiciously -I promise this is all nerves😂😂
Ah I miss people. I miss hating on those people during summer with their care-free attitude and million dollars outfits enjoying the sunshine while I am sitting at home nursing my yet another summer allergies😂😆
I love this💕It made me laugh xx😆😘
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I just love reading your posts, even when you’re feeling not so great. You make me happy! And omg, “I miss buying overpriced coffee just to post a photo of it on Instagram.” Yaaaaas! Why do we do that?! The airport stuff 💯 yes!! Loved this xoxoxo
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Hahah aww. Thank you so much for being so nice to me.
Hahah – I just can’t imagine being at the airport and not getting Starbucks. And if I’m buying overpriced coffee might as well get an IG story out of it.🤣🙈
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💯 same same 😘
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So many things we were used to take for guaranteed and now missing out and have started to appreciate since this pandemic hit us.
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Truly. This pandemic has made us appreciate basic things like stepping out of home and breathing fresh air. 🙈
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Great post! I love the way you express…. I miss this.. I miss that.
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Thank you so much ❤️
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Even if everything goes back to normal one day, I’ll still never see face masks the same way again. This pandemic will change my mindset on many things forever.
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So true!! This pandemic has made me realise how amazing 6ft distancing is. I think that’s something we should totally continue with after!!
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I truly miss wearing a cute lipstick and smiling on the road with my fellow brothers and sisters. Am from a township so our streets is always packed up with people
I also appreciate the Women’s meetings and just coming together to encourage each other in faith.
That is just amazing
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Truly miss pre-mask days! You can’t even tell if a man is good looking or not under the damn mask. JK! 🤣
Ooh have your women’s meetings not started again?
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Absolutely…not even to see if he has cute smile or not🤣🤣🤣🤣🙈
Well they’ve started but there are restrictions. Only 250people allowed
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I miss dining out with friends so much!!!
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Me too! I miss going out dancing with friends!! 🥺
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Did I read that right? You miss airports? Hahahaha I was saying the same thing just a few days ago but honestly speaking, I’m sure it will get old as soon as we are back to traveling again! 😂
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Ahaha great post!! 😂 I miss being in huge crowds so packed with people that you can’t even walk – and I miss crowded bars with their sticky floor and people randomly spilling alcohol on you 😛
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Hang in! We’ll get back to normal! I’m fully vaccinated so I’m allowed to get together with friends who also are. I’ve made plans to get together with a friend this weekend and neither of us can believe it’s been more than a year since we’ve seen each other because we had canceled our plans with each other before, a few times. Can’t wait to see her! I got together with a married couple and I started to cry because I was so overjoyed from seeing them again! Last weekend I went with my family to the Science Center and it used to be packed with families and tons of people milling around but this time we had to preregister to be allowed in at a certain time, so it meant no crowds of people. While it was absolutely wonderful to get the kids back there after more than a years absence, I did miss the crowds! My family wears masks even as the mandates are lifting in various parts and people here rebell against them. I hope not to rub salt in the wound by sharing, as India goes through a worst round, my hope is only to give some hope of normalcy returning. Blessings to you and yours!
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Right …..pandemic has set in the new normal…masks , handwash..a fear of the unknown, increased anxiety…fortunately my routine did not change due to my job profile…but still the social gatherings are missed ….
Nice writeup..
Stay blessed 🙏😇
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I miss rush hour traffic 😭😭😭
Notttt🤪🤮 total time killer!! Not looking forward to than again lol
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I truly miss my friends and school…. 😥😥 But there are some positive things like spending time with family. 😁😉 Loved this post
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The pandemic has taught me to be contented with what all I have at present and be kind and not shy away from helping strangers. The way Indians have shown solidarity and the way they stood up for each other while battling second wave is really exemplary…
Having said that I consider myself lucky to still have family members around, having economic stability in life. It’s time to move our precedence from materialistic world to softer skills such as compassion, kindness and make world a better place to live!!!!
I firmly believe that humanity is mankind’s greatest virtue and I could relate to this post since I am also an introvert like you and always look for excuses cancelling the plans. Lolz
Thank you for posting such beautiful post 🙂
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I hear you. So much life we have lost. Also, I find it nice that you miss meeting new people even if it does not always come easy. Very nice.
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I’m in total agreement. In fact, I’m so inspired by this post that I’m thinking about writing a post on all the things that I appreciate. Hopefully this ordeal will be over soon.
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Hope is high. 😀 I too am missing the long walks, meeting new faces, oh so boring it is to stay inside, now.
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