TIS Magazine 2020

midding v. intr. feeling the tranquil pleasure of being near a gath- ering but not quite in it-hovering in the perimeter of a campfire, chatting outside a party while others dance in- side, resting your head in the backseat listening to your friends chatting upfront-feeling blissfully invisible yet still fully included, safe in the knowledge that everyone is to- gether and everyone is okay, with all the thrill of being there without the burden of having to be. You’ve swiped to this page and you see a word that doesn’t actually exist. But you notice a few things in its definition: the words campfire, a gathering, friends, a party, and chatting. In my mind, your mind catapults to a crowd of people. To an atmosphere of togetherness where you basked in the enjoyment of worthwhile pres- ence. Doesn’t that seem like paradise now? The played-out and overused words ‘new year, new me’ seemed to have a new zest to it as we entered the year 2020. After all, it was the beginning of a new year, a new decade, a new century. Who knew rather than the total positivity we hoped for, it would conceive an epidemic that costs the lives of thou- sands? Who knew that the epidemic would become a pandemic that costs the lives of millions? Tell me, reader, who thought that the pandemic would affect Ghana as well? Now, The social distancing borne of COVID 19 hap- pened, and still is happening (hopefully not by the time you’re reading this). But now I just want you to look at social distancing with this in mind: Midding: the tranquil pleasure of being near a gathering but not quite in it. Everything changes. Do you see? We can be at a gather- ing without being in it, chatting at a party, resting in that backseat laughing, mere centimeters away all from the convenience of our screens. Apart, yet still fully includ- ed knowing that regardless of the screen barriers, the static integrated with our voice as we speak and the lack of physical touch that everyone is together and indeed everyone is okay. In essence, we experience the thrill of being there... being there through zoom, through text throughout a phone call -anything- without the burden of having to be there. Not physically there, but still pres- ent. It’s a worldwide break for introspection and retrospec- tion. To redefine your goals, values, and metrics. To expe- rience darkness so you can appreciate the light when it comes. The social distancing of today brings our height- ened existence tomorrow. We can make the most out of this situation and come out of it as new people or we can keep old habits that will result in the same occurrences. ‘ New year, new me’ would only have that zest to it when we change for the better. We have the chance to do this during this time. I’ll end this the way our president always does because it is indeed true, that this too shall pass. -Vanessa SURVIVING H o w I d e a l t w i t h i s o l a t i o n COVID-19 | 50