Bhilwara among the first to impose lockdown: As soon as I heard about COVID Virus and its effect, I was thinking of ways and means to help people. First case was detected at my place – Bhilwara, Rajasthan and the lockdown was imposed on 19.03.2020. Being a spiritual practitioner, I started meditating for people. I kept myself busy with self progress activity. I have been searching something to do for people.

 

Where there is a will there’s a way: I got a call from a friend informing me that the local COVID Testing lab is in need of a Senior Lab Technician, being a postgraduate in BioTechnology with 2 years experience, I attended the interview and got selected. I convinced my parents saying – look around, people at various stages are doing something, let me too have my space and allow me to do something.

 

Challenges at Work: There were more than 2000 samples in a day to complete. Initially, I was not used to PPE Kit, double mask etc which at later stages was like part of me. Once we entered the lab, we were not taking any water, food as most of the time we continued to work for 6-12 hours. Night shift was again a challenge. There was a demand for results of emergency cases. My parents were also sleepless sometimes as I was going at 4 PM and returning at 4 AM. However, they were also surprised seeing me working at this length. It was a place where even doctors panicked to enter the lab. I make friends with the buzzer of the testing lab equipment reminding myself good things wherever the buzzer rings. Self motivating talk was one thing I used to practice at my work.

 

Spirituality was Foundation: I learnt tirelessness. I practiced self-affirmations for myself, the people and my work. It was not the salary that dragged me to the lab but inner gist to work for people. I felt that I should rely on one Almighty only rather than people. I practiced to remain firm in various situations. I learnt to be an observer simultaneously taking action needed at a particular time. I practiced positive wishes, feelings of compassion for people and for my work at the workplace.

Spiritual knowledge helped to be ever-ready for any challenges. Morning 4 o’clock meditation, daily spiritual classes helped me to remain positive and kept myself safe from being flooded by news and other social media.

When my father reported us that he is not able to sleep for the last 15 days properly then we helped him to get disconnected from worldly news about pandemic. The result was that he could have a better sleep.

When there was a death of a relative due to covid, the spiritual knowledge helped me to remain stable. Thus I could take care of everyone in the family while being on the stage of an Observer.

My last learning was to remain fearless. Diseases may not harm people as much as fear does. One should remain physically and mentally fit. Practice positive affirmation in your daily life. I have been testing COVID Samples for 8 months and found a new person in me.

 

By Rashmiben Pareekh

Senior Lab Technician

(SLT) at RVRS Government Medical College

Bhilwara(Rajasthan).