We went to the beach last week on the east coast of Malaysia for a quick break. Our state borders re-opened last week after 10 months, making interstate travel possible again. In hindsight, it is hard to believe that we got through 10 months without being able to go to the next state let alone a neighbouring country.

Lockdown affected each of us differently. Having spoken to clients, friends, and family, everyone missed different things. One of our fundamental freedoms and necessity as humans, movement, was restricted or permitted only with conditions. We all felt cabin fever to varying degrees. This year feels harder than last year. Especially here in Malaysia. Even though we were in lockdown for nearly 4 months, our daily cases were rising to levels we had never seen before. It was disheartening. It was as if our effort, staying at home, was not making a difference!

I settled into lockdown without too much resistance but towards the last month, I too was having to dig deeper. It reminded me of hiking (mountains) especially here in the tropics. Hiking or climbing mountains in the tropics can be a character-building affair. Many years ago, 26 years to be exact, I climbed Gunung Tahan (Mount Tahan), the highest peak in Peninsular Malaysia, 2187m. It is a trek which is 110km round-trip through the rainforest. It took me 8 days to complete the trip to the peak and back. I carried my food, tent, clothes, and everything one needs for such a trip. River water was purified, back then, with chemical tablets for drinking. Now, a Steripen would be more practical.

A (human) guide was mandatory on this hike to avoid getting lost. There are allocated campsites (a cleared patch to pitch a tent) on the trail, usually by a river to stay overnight. But what was unique about this hike was that most of it was under the canopy of trees. It felt like my only focus was to put one foot in front of the other. The forest was dense and there was no way of seeing the peak or a good distance ahead. The trail included traversing several hills and river crossings before making the final ascent to the peak, which was on day 4. Until then the guide was the only way of knowing I was heading in the right direction.

It was all about the next step. There were two or three areas on ridges that were cleared, a look-out, permitting views of the surrounding hills and valleys that helped me gain some perspective. Or what I call a long view. But once I started walking again, the focus was back on the short view. What was in front of me. Lockdown felt like that for me. I had ‘a view’ of the months ahead (long view) but it was not fully formed, and the real focus was getting through the days and weeks (short view).

As the world slowly reopens it feels like we are butterflies coming out of our cocoon to experience the world anew. Much has changed. Things are not as they were before March 2020. Our fundamental freedoms, things that we took for granted, are now only possible with conditions.

Dining out, crossing borders, travelling abroad, meeting in groups is permitted with conditions. Right or wrong, it is what it is. As governments ease restrictions, they are trying their best to empower citizens to be responsible for themselves and those around them. It is working well in some instances and not so well in others. Different countries are trying different rules and it seems like no country has the right formula. For the first time, the world seems to be operating without a clear reference point.

Which is a good thing for us, I believe. It is the moment we have all been waiting for, making choices based on what is important for us going forward. For some, the first step is returning to their home countries after being caught out overseas. For others, the first step is crossing borders to be with family, to continue working from home or not, to change jobs or not and so on.

For Markus and me, it was going for a swim in the sea! And we were physically distanced too. We have a rooftop tent (see picture above), making us nomadic, self-sufficient, and with nature. A reflection of us, present and future.

What about you - what is important for you going forward?

As always, you can reach me at yoga@yoganesadurai.com