The number of people suffering from depression, anxiety, insomnia has increased, there is a lack of harmony. But we have to be patient a little more…

2020-12-21 16:46:48 Albana Murra

Javier Marias / A few years ago - maybe in 2018 - I made a comparison between the years of the previous century and this century, it was quite clear which was the worst, that this century had not passed any events similar to the First World War and the flu of 1918-1920, which killed an estimated 100 million people. We could not even imagine that something similar to that pandemic would ¨conquer ¨ the world in 2020. Of course, the number of those who lost their lives to the coronavirus is not even close to those who died 100 years ago, although now the planet Earth , is filled with the most foolish people, selfish and cowardly.
The inability to give up entertainment is noticed in the period before Christmas. It's the penultimate weekend of this month and the streets are full as if nothing was happening, otherwise. We were informed that the coming weeks are very important and we should continue to exercise extreme caution in adhering to measures to prevent a third wave of infections in January. A request that has gone to deaf ears: hetWe have to go out to buy something or drink something¨, ¨How will we be left without holidays fest, ¨How will we not kiss on New Year's Eve¨. Naturally the question arises, what else do these people want to understand, that if one year we can not do these things, it is not the end of the world and the price we have to pay otherwise is very high, not only for our country but for the whole world.

A few weeks in the hospital, for what, for some hugs with friends and for some family dinners? There is no logic and moreover I am extremely frustrated by all this.
Sometimes the authorities are to blame for this behavior of the people because they did everything in their power to disobey the rules. Yes, through street lighting, New Year trees, attract crowds to gather, why the hell did they put them? The mayors who have this in mind should be brought to justice.

It has been a sad and strange year. We know that in a short time all this horror will have come to an end - as it did in the last century with less prepared people - this fact does not comfort us as long as we are still in a pandemic and no one knows to whom meet to suffer. I realize that after eleven months of fear, pity, discomfort, without seeing our relatives, locked up at home or going out very little, in search of finding things to do for ourselves. The number of people suffering from anxiety, depression, insomnia, has increased. But we have to be patient a little more. In March we believed that this ¨even more¨ would be a shorter time and with each passing month we must continue to believe the same thing. But only then will we succeed. People I cherished have lost their lives, and many others must have had the same thing happen to them. I know people who have all this time who can not concentrate on anything, who are left waiting and are like paralyzed. I also know others who have followed Burke rekomand's advice u Never despair, and if you do despair, keep working¨. I have tried to apply it myself this year, I have written 403 pages of my book omasThomas Nevinson¨, which as I told you, I finished by the end of October and in the meantime I have written 58 articles. None of these things is enough for me to be satisfied. I believe that for us as beings it is difficult to say: kaq With that I will close it, I will retire, I will rest¨. At least that's the case with me. I also know others who have followed Burke rekomand's advice u Never despair, and if you do despair, keep working¨. I have tried to apply it myself this year, I have written 403 pages of my book omasThomas Nevinson¨, which as I told you, I finished by the end of October and in the meantime I have written 58 articles. None of these things is enough for me to be satisfied. I believe that for us as a being it is difficult to say: kaq With that I will close, I will retire, I will rest¨. At least that's the case with me. I also know others who have followed Burke rekomand's advice u Never despair, and if you do despair, keep working¨. I have tried to apply it myself this year, I have written 403 pages of my book omasThomas Nevinson¨, which as I told you, I finished by the end of October and in the meantime I have written 58 articles. None of these things is enough for me to be satisfied. I believe that for us as a being it is difficult to say: kaq With that I will close it, I will retire, I will rest¨. At least that's the case with me. None of these things is enough for me to be satisfied. I believe that for us as beings it is difficult to say: kaq With that I will close it, I will retire, I will rest¨. At least that's the case with me. None of these things is enough for me to be satisfied. I believe that for us as a being it is difficult to say: kaq With that I will close, I will retire, I will rest At least that's the case with me.

Maybe I should congratulate myself, especially if I mean those who this whole situation has overcome. I stayed active, I achieved a kind of balance. I saw movies I had on my list to watch. I have read, listened to music, the fascinating wonders of Jean Gilles that are still heard, and why 315 years have passed since his death. I have walked through a more beautiful and humane city than the city I was turning into. I know this pandemic has hurt a number of businesses, but we should also look at the benefits we have had. I exchanged more conversations with the few people I meet, my excellent Mercedes assistant, Aurora cleaner, Lola porter, Fanny baker, Arthur, who will have to close the business by the end of the year, my friend Tanon, my editor Pilar , my doctor and friend Jose Manuel and of course my wife, Carmen with whom I spent four months locked up but I have three months that I do not see. Everyone has given me joy and given meaning to my days. We adapt to any situation. And although it may sound very absurd, I myself will miss some things from this whole situation. Since I consider myself quite coherent, I am sure that when all this passes, there will be many who will say: ¨Despite everything, we were not so bad¨.

* Javier Marias is a Spanish novelist and translator. Author of 15 novels, some of which have been translated into 44 different languages of the world. He is the winner of several international awards such as: Rómulo Gallegos Prize (1994), International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award (1997), Austrian State Prize for European Literature (2011).