By Kyaw King

I FEEL happy today (17 April). Thankful for the beautiful sunlight as it streams in slowly through my front door. I smell the fresh air, and the sweet scents of roses that are grown in front of the house.

Rolling on the bed, I am thinking about Myanmar New Year, the day that falls today. It is amazingly silent. Except the voices of little birds, the sounds of vehicles and people celebrating New Year are muted this year.

On last year’s New Year Day, people cheerfully organized and took part in fun activities. Most of the people stayed outside, going to the pagodas, monasteries and taking part in fun activities.

I get up from the bed, go in front of the house, and look at the sun which is brightly shining. After a few minutes, my eyes became itchy viewing the bright sunlight. It is just 8am. What I have to do on the New Year Day, I think. Nothing exactly comes out.

Therefore, I do my daily routines. Brush my teeth, take a bath, and have breakfast. I want to make a worthwhile New Year Day 2020. Cancelling festivals, authorities urged people to stay at home to control the spread of Coronavirus.

I must stay at home, I know. I take my mobile, which is mostly on my hands during the days, and turn on internet. I watch a TED Talk video about New Year’s resolution. No idea about how to spend the day comes out.

Of course, everyone wants to celebrate New Year Day with massive celebrations. However, COVID-19 makes people to stay at home.

Some of my university classmates are online; one of them called me on messenger, and two other friends also joined our video chat. Though we are staying at different towns at present, we all are staying at home and using mobile phone. We spent about an hour talking about all the beautiful memories we had shared, joking and laughing.

People say goodbye to the old year, and are welcoming New Year on Facebook. I see a Facebook post about this year’s Thingyan festival. The poem is as follow;

“A chatbox Thingyan”

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed 2020 Water Festival to be stopped, forcing people to stay at home. Staying at home, and surfing Facebook, Thingyan-lovers are splashing water in the chatbox. Splashing water in the chatbox, people are celebrating this year’s water festival in social media form.

#KZT

After I read the poem, I give the New Year Day “Silent New Year” reflecting the situation of no one is on the road, and all are staying at home.

I then meditate, listen to music, eat snacks and read books. I do these things alternatively. Time flies quickly. I even don’t notice that the clock struck 9pm. I take a bath, and go to bed reflecting the New Year Day that I spent.

I am satisfied with the day. Taking the example from the New Year Day, I set goals for the whole year, which includes staying at a silent place, mediating and reading books.

Before going asleep, I use Facebook. When my friends ask me in the chat box about my New Year Day 2020, I reply “it was joyful.” “Staying at a silent place, meditating, and reading books make my New Year Day joyful.”

Then, I fell asleep, and got a dream. In my dream, an old man with long white beard comes to me, and says “Dear boy, try to make your remaining days of the year joyful like the New Year Day.” “Try to stay at a silent place, meditate, and read a lot of books.

These are the causes of your joyful day.” “Keep these three things to be included in your daily routines.” “You will be a happy person in the remaining days of the year as well as your whole life.” the old man says. “Also, don’t forget to share the joyful message.” the old man says, and disappears in my dream.