16 Coisas que nunca mais vou tomar por garantidas quando isto tudo acabar

Few months ago, we couldn’t have even imagined that something like this would happen to us. That people would be dying every day.

Que as escolas seriam fechadas. Que as reuniões religiosas seriam proibidas.

Many changes have hit us. It’s happened so fast, it’s overwhelmed us.

As pessoas são postas em auto-isolamento. O distanciamento social tornou-se o nosso modo de vida.

Voltaire disse uma vez que todo o mal gera um bem e este auto-isolamento trouxe-me algo de bom.

I’ve realized all those things I took for granted over the past years.

I’ve made a promise to myself that I’ll change that and that these things will be more important for me from now on. I won’t take any of these for granted ever again.

1. Abraçar as pessoas de quem gosto

I’ve never been one of those people who liked to hug and kiss people they love all the time. I didn’t like to show my appreciation for someone that way.

However, this social distancing has changed that. I couldn’t bear the thought that something bad had to happen to the people I love.

And I am afraid that I haven’t shown them how much I love them and care for them.

This will change after these difficult times. I’ll hug all people I love so tight that they’ll realize immediately just how much I missed them and love them.

2. Saúde

We don’t appreciate enough the times we are healthy, that’s a fact. When we don’t have any health issues, we don’t think about the fact that our health condition can change in an instant.

It really can. I realize it now, and I hope we all do. I’ve been postponing my annual check ups whenever I could.

I haven’t had time for it. I’ve been feeling fine and thinking that I didn’t even need it.

We should always have time for it, because we will regret it if we ever lose it. I’ve promised myself that, from now on, I will always make time for those checkups.

I will appreciate my health more and I’ll thank God every day for taking care of me.

I won’t take my health for granted ever again because it is the most precious and valuable possession I have.

3. A minha relação com Deus

Quando tudo isto aconteceu, comecei a rezar a Deus todos os dias. Pedi-lhe que nos protegesse e que nos ajudasse nestes tempos difíceis.

Pedi-Lhe que me protegesse a mim e às pessoas que me são próximas deste vírus terrível.

Comecei a rezar todas as noites antes de me deitar. Uma noite, apercebi-me de como estava a ser hipócrita.

I was praying only in these tough times, where before this situation, I didn’t have time even to pray and thank God for everything He’s given us.

Eu vou mudar isso. Todas as manhãs, I’ll thank God por proteger as pessoas que amo e por me dar mais um dia de vida.

Every night before I go to sleep, I’ll ask Him to give us enough strength to cope with whatever challenges lie ahead.

4. Tempo para mim

Ter alguns o tempo a sós é importante for every person. During this social distancing period, we’ve had quite a bit of time to do just that.

I’ve finally learned to enjoy it. I’ve realized how relaxing it is and how it can recarregar as baterias. To be clear, I haven’t been lonely, I’ve just found time for myself.

I’ve thought about my life and some of the big decisions I made. I’ve thought about the people in my life and how much they mean to me.

I’ve promised to myself that I’ll never again take for granted that “me time.”

5. A minha família

Sometimes after work, I’d be really tired and often miss some or other family gathering because of it.

On weekends I’d have other obligations, so most times I’d end up not visiting my parents and grandparents.

Agora sinto a falta deles mais do que qualquer outra coisa e apercebo-me de que a família é realmente a parte mais importante da minha vida.

Now because of coronavirus social distancing orders, I can’t visit them, even though I would like to see them more than anything.

I’ll never again neglect them, but try to visit them as much as I can. Another promise I’ve made to myself.

6. Estar com os meus amigos

The same case. Sometimes I’d be tired and not feel like going out with my friends.

Após um mês de quarentena e sem ver nenhum deles, vejo que devo sair com eles sempre que me convidam.

A vida é verdadeiramente imprevisível. Nunca sabemos o que nos pode acontecer amanhã.

That’s why we should use every minute to tell all the people close to us how important they are to us.

Dear friends, just so you know, you are my other family and I can’t wait for this all to pass and to hang out with you all.

Nunca mais vou tomar as nossas amizades como garantidas.

7. Conversas com os meus vizinhos

I have to admit, sometimes I would avoid my neighbors just so I’d not have to talk with them.

Now I miss those little chit-chats because every time I go outside, I don’t see a soul.

It’s rather scary. I remember our streets full of kids playing outside; now everything is empty. Even when I see some of the neighbors, we can’t talk.

They just wave and I wave back. It’s the only communication we have now.

I’ve always had a decent relationship with all of my neighbors, but I’ll never take them and our chit-chats for granted anymore.

Agora que sinto a falta deles, apercebo-me de que essas conversas eram uma parte importante do meu dia e que os vizinhos também fazem parte da minha vida.

8. O meu trabalho

I know that we all hate going to work sometimes. I do, too. Sometimes I’d even be late because I’d hate it.

I wouldn’t be afraid of what my boss may say because I’d think that I’d find a new job easily.

Ver quantas pessoas estão a ser despedidas por causa da covid-19 fez-me pensar duas vezes sobre o assunto.

It’s made me realize that I shouldn’t take my job for granted because many people would like to be in my place and work to earn some money for their families.

9. Caminhar ou correr ao ar livre

Sometimes, I go hiking in the mountains because I know it’s safe there and I won’t run into people there. It’s relaxing for me because I love spending time in nature.

But what I really miss is those walks with my friends in the park. I miss starting my mornings with a run. I hope this will be over soon and I’ll be able to get back in form.

10. Sair à noite

Algum tempo antes de tudo isto acontecer, estava a dizer ao meu SO que estava farta dos nossos encontros em restaurantes e que seria melhor se eu cozinhasse alguma coisa para podermos ter um encontro em casa.

Well, this pandemic has made me eat my words – God knows how I miss our favorite restaurant and food there!

Hell, I even miss drinking decent espresso-based coffee. I’m not so great a chef and I swear I’ll never take our date nights out for granted again.

11. Festas de aniversário

I’ve never cared for having a birthday party and never threw any. My friends know that and they’d organize a surprise birthday party for me every year.

O meu aniversário é em abril e este aniversário foi o mais triste para mim.

Apesar de ter recebido imensas mensagens da minha família, amigos e pessoas do trabalho, senti-me de alguma forma mal amada porque desta vez estava sozinha.

Once again, it’s shown me how thankful I should be for my friends because they’ve made me happy all these years on my birthday.

I’ve realized that deep down I do care for having a birthday party and cake, and  receber presentes dos meus entes queridos.

I have to say that I sympathize with all people born in April. Don’t be sad for not celebrating your birthday the way you wanted this year.

I know that next year, it’s all going to be much better.

12. Compras

I am so sick of online shopping. I can’t wait to go to the mall. I can’t even wait to go to the grocery store the way I used to, without avoiding people there or wearing a mask and gloves all the time.

I’ll never complain again about all those long lines in grocery stores or how people go crazy during Black Friday or some other big sale.

13. Viajar

I’ve always thought that I should only focus on my career, that I’d have time for all other things later.

That’s why I haven’t traveled a lot, even though I like it so much.

Now, I’ve already planned my next vacation trip, when this is all over. I can’t wait to hop on a plane.

I won’t even complain about those uncomfortable seats or bad service.

Descobrir novos lugares, tradições e culturas. Conhecer novas pessoas e aprender sobre os seus costumes.

This is something priceless and I’ll never take it for granted again, and neither should you.

14. Ler livros

Since college, I never used my free time to read books – I didn’t have much free time and I always had something “more important” to do than read.

Now that my schedule is wide open, I’ve started reading again.

Lembrou-me como a leitura de livros nos pode fazer sentir bem e que pode ser o nosso escape da dura realidade.

15. Ir ao cinema

Yes, I have a TV at home and I watch movies. But, you have to admit, it’s not the same feeling when you watch it at home alone and when you watch it at the movies with your friends.

I hope this will be over by September, because there are some great premieres then and I really miss watching those with my friends. Well, mostly I miss the popcorn, but still…

16. Liberdade

I didn’t know how lucky I was for having the freedom to go anywhere I want.

I’ve been truly blessed because I’ve been able to travel, eat out and go to concerts whenever I want.

I didn’t appreciate it, but lockdown has made me realize that my liberdade para fazer coisas when and how I want is definitely something I’ll never take for granted again.

Penso que, de alguma forma, isto é uma lição para todos nós. Para apreciarmos mais a vida. Para mostrarmos aos nossos entes queridos o quanto os amamos.

Cuidar melhor das pessoas idosas. Agradecer a Deus por tudo o que temos. Nunca mais tomar nada como garantido na vida.