We went from CB, to leaving CB, entering into phase 1, 2 and 3, before returning back to P2HA and P3HA. That was followed by the four stages re-opening road map moving towards a covid resilient nation, starting off with preparation stage, transition stage A, transition stage B and finally covid resilient nation. 

Photography by Ryan Cheng

We are like rocking to and fro, swinging in and out. Where are we heading, why does it seem like 1 step forward and 2 steps backward? As we brace ourselves for the inevitable rise in local cases when we embark on the journey to cautiously and slowly open up. For many of us, we keep to the rules and regulations, playing our part. Yet we still return back to tightened measures and restrictions again when new measures and restrictions were announced on Friday 24th September evening, that would start on Monday 27th September till 24th October 2021. 

I am running out of words to describe my frustrations and feelings. We are back to a heightened alert level yet we are not calling it a heightened alert. Small and medium sized businesses are still suffering from this ongoing pandemic situation while trying to survive and return back to some normalcy. Yet another round of those new measures and restrictions are going to have another round of financial, emotional and mental health impacts on us again.

When can we see light at the end of the tunnel? When can we see the end of this global pandemic situation? When can we move from pandemic to endemic? When can we get our life back to the pre-covid time even though it won’t be the same as before?

This ongoing journey battling the global pandemic over the past 1.5 years (and still counting) have made us mentally and emotionally very fatigued, not to mention the stress and pressure from the financial impacts of running a small business. 

Sometimes we see the light at the end of the tunnel, sometimes it feels like it’s getting dim and flickering at times. Although it can be very discouraging and disappointing at times, we have to keep on moving and striving forward.  

There are many a times, people can’t see, feel or even understand what I am going through, the amount of stress, pressure, emotional and mental fatigue, not just from the battling this ongoing global pandemic, there are also business operations and personal matters deep inside the heart, mind and soul that can’t be said openly and publicly. 

Photography by Ryan Cheng

While I was in a much worse mental and emotional stage back in May and June 2021 as compared to this current point in time, I will continue to pick myself up and continue moving forward, one step at a time, towards the light at the end of the tunnel. 

The post When can we see the light at the end of the tunnel? appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Photography by Isaac Ong

I am not going to share P2HA restrictions photos or talk much about the restrictions in place, the stacked up tables and chairs at kopitiam, cafes, food outlets or the taped up benches and tables at hawker centres, like what I published previously here. However, I would still continue documenting and photographing P2HA whenever possible. 

Photography by Ryan Cheng

Our mental and emotional health/well-being are receiving further and bigger impacts from the ongoing COVID-19 fatigue along with cabin fever. It’s more than a year now since 2020 when the global pandemic hit us, everyone is feeling very tired, it’s taking a big toll on our mental and emotional health. We can see more people around us getting depressed with news of three murder cases within a week in Singapore doesn’t bade well on our current mental and emotional health/well-being. My mental and emotional health/well-being took a hit in the earlier P2HA, I was depressed, in a rut and I was blessed to have friends who pulled me out. 

Through my own photography therapy, trekking into nature and outdoors for forest bathing, I found solace, peace and tranquility again during this ongoing battle against this global pandemic. While this was’t an immediate recovery, it was a slow and steady pace for me. If you are feeling mentally and emotionally burnt out, feeling depressed, you are not alone, you’ll never walk alone, you have your family, loved ones and friends beside you to help you through this.

Please speak to someone that you can trust, go for physical and exercise activities, get into outdoors and nature, return back to your hobbies. You can also do/start something new too. Mental health matters, your mental health and emotional health matters. Take good care of yourself first and you would be able to help other people, from your family, loved ones, to friends and others in the society that have fallen through the cracks.

I am working on a photography therapy project at the moment, I hope that my upcoming humble photography therapy book/zine can help you or play a small role in improving your mental and emotional health/well-being. 

Is there light at the end of the tunnel in this ongoing battle with this global pandemic? Initially, it seemed like we can see light at the end of the tunnel yet the return of P2HA again dampen the whole recovery journey. This is definitely a long and lengthy battle against this global pandemic COVID-19 with many turbulence of ups and downs, this dip might derail our recovery efforts towards a new normal. Let this be the time to unite, be strong and work closely together to continue our fight and recovery journey against  this global pandemic. 

Return of P2HA – Please Take Good Care!

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