Greetings‭, ‬and I hope that you are all fine‭. ‬Due to COVID-19‭, ‬we are all advised to stay home‭. ‬Globally many people have been infected and the virus spreads rapidly‭.‬

But for some of us‭, ‬the lockdown is driving us crazy‭. ‬We can’t go beyond the gate‭. ‬And not to mention some of the events that were supposed to happen are now rescheduled or cancelled‭. ‬I mean‭, ‬I think I’m even starting to get claustrophobic‭.‬

And yet‭, ‬I don’t even have claustrophobia‭.  ‬But it is in dark times like this when we all need each other‭. ‬When the streets of the city that were once vibrant are now empty‭, ‬churches that were once musical are now dull and quiet and the stadiums that were once full of happy and energetic people cheering their teams on are now vacant and idle‭. ‬

And maybe on a Saturday‭, ‬you’d be going to the gym and working out but instead you’re pouring oil on your kitchen floor to work as a treadmill‭. ‬And maybe on a Sunday you would be singing and praising God but instead you’re sitting in front of your television holding your Bible watching church live‭. ‬

But it’s not the same is it‭? ‬Not like meeting people and catching up‭. ‬By the time this is over‭, ‬you might have forgotten what they look‭ ‬like‭. ‬And on Monday‭, ‬instead of waking up at 5am to go to work‭, ‬you are waking up at 8am to work at home surrounded by your children‭ ‬‮—‬‭ ‬nagging you every minute‭. ‬But think about the women carrying babies on their back who sell tomatoes in the evenings as you retire from work‭, ‬they are now selling no tomatoes because the streets are empty‭.‬

Lockdown is driving us all crazy but it’s for a good cause‭; ‬it’s to keep us safe and make sure the virus doesn’t spread‭. ‬But in times like this‭, ‬what we need is a positive attitude to light up our day‭. ‬Hopefully‭, ‬we will find the light at‭ ‬the end of this tunnel‭. ‬

Karabo is an 11-year-old Grade 9‭ ‬student at Nu-Vision High School‭. ‬