We are on the homestretch of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some vaccines have been sealed and delivered, ready to be administered to the public. The United Kingdom leads the pack, favoring shots from Pfizer-BionNTech. In a very British fashion, the U.K. media has dubbed vaccination day as “V-Day” or “Vaxit”. Soon, the rest of the world will follow.
As soon as enough of the population has been vaccinated for herd immunity to be achieved, things will go back to normal. And by normal we do not mean the new normal. We mean the old normal, where you can actually do stuff and actively enjoy them too.
When that day comes, you must be prepared. You must be up and ready to once again take control of your life. If there’s anything the pandemic has taught you, it should be how you should not take your days for granted. That you should make the most of the life you have been given. And a huge part of living life to the fullest is immersing yourself in new experiences.
Here are some things we suggest you do post-pandemic. One of these recommendations might just change your life.
Learn to play the piano
Have you always suspected there’s a Beethoven inside of you? Once the pandemic is over, it’s high time you put your suspicion to test. Enroll in a piano class and see whether you were right all along.
Do not get intimidated or dissuaded by child prodigies like the jazz pianist Keith Jarrett who started playing at three years old. To each his own pace. Remember that your only competition is yourself.
Visit North Korea
There are conflicting accounts about North Korea. One side of the story depicts the country as a failed experiment in communism, ruled by a fascist. Another side of the story depicts the country as what could be a thriving state that has fallen victim to economic embargos done by empires intent to keep the status quo.
Once travel restrictions are lifted, you can find out for yourself which of those two accounts ring true for you. You might even discover a third story that lies just in the middle.
Master Parkour
If you think of yourself as agile and flexible, Parkour might be right up your alley. This whole-body workout is enough to replace your gym membership. That means you will have one less monthly expense to worry about.
Be ready to break some bones though. That’s part and parcel of learning Parkour. As they say, no pain, no glory.
Confess to your one true love
Has someone been living in your head rent-free for years or decades? Once the world is ready for maskless one on conversations, grab the chance to finally bill your brain’s freeloading tenant. Remember that there’s only one thing worse than unrequited love, it’s unprofessed love.
Life is too short and you do not want to take that love to your grave. That love deserves to be known, even if it is meant to be squashed.
Adopt an impoverished child
Sure you are neither Madonna nor Angelina Jolie. But you do not have to be a multimillionaire to adopt an impoverished child. You only need a stable job that pays, and a heart that’s in the right place. If you are of age and you know enough about the ethical arguments against procreation in the age of irreversible climate change, start Googling children for adoption from the world’s most impoverished nations. Post-pandemic, you should be ready to become a parent.
You are probably excited to get yourself inoculated against COVID-19. You probably have big plans for when it is finally safe to go outside of your house without a mask on, and those plans may or may not include the entries on the list above. But even after the vaccines are rolled out, you might still need to wait a little longer, depending on your personal background.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has outlined its vaccination strategy, which prioritizes vulnerable populations. These include the elderly (those over the age of 65); minority ethnic groups; those with pre-existing conditions; residents and workers in psychiatric, care homes, and prison facilities; and healthcare workers.
If you do not belong to any of the aforementioned demographics, take comfort in the fact that the CDC thinks you are not as susceptible to COVID-19 as others might be. That does not mean you can skip the mask, gallivant, and risk becoming a super spreader. Remember that while You Only Live Once (YOLO), so does everyone else.
