There is no doubt that the world is different before and after the Covid‑19 pandemic. Not even first‑world societies were prepared to be locked inside their homes for four months. Healthcare and mortuary systems collapsed everywhere. Little by little, life returned to normal thanks to vaccines. With them, we managed to stop the advance of calamities that had reached terrifying levels.

Yet, the pandemic left us with many lessons that have changed our lives over these past six years. Some things are painfully obvious, and the pandemic revealed that we weren’t prepared even for the most basic. Here are my reflections:

• We are very vulnerable on this planet. A tiny organism can wipe us out completely. If we don’t take care of the planet, the planet will not take care of us in return.
• It is necessary to have a strong immune system—healthy mind, body, and emotions. We never know when or how new diseases will arrive. We can’t hide from them. We must face them and get sick within the limits of our own strength. We must acquire antibodies and let our bodies learn how to fight.
• Misinformation and fear kill just as much as the pandemic.
• My neighbors’ health should matter to me. If they are healthy, I am healthy too.
• There are certain jobs that can be done from anywhere in the world. Schedules disappear. Employees have shifted from the 8×5 mentality to 24×7.
• Businesses related to groceries, health, and telecommunications are not affected by any pandemic.
• It is necessary to have enough savings in the bank to survive six months without working.
• It is necessary to have two sources of income—especially one that can be done from home.
• It is necessary to know how to grow vegetables and fruits in any space at home. A small garden is not just a hobby.
• Life, as we know it, can change in an instant. It is important to live in the moment.