It feels like forever since last December. Last year at this time we had no clue how the year was going to end up being. Restrictions, close downs, six feet distance, no hugging, no shaking hands, face masks, quarantine, people working from home, washing hands for 20 seconds, hand sanitizer, lines outside stores to get in, people dying alone, being afraid of ICU beds running out, and the wait for a vaccine. There are other things I probably forgot here, but it’s been a trying year for sure.
I have always loved even years, and I have no clue why. This year was not the one to love. On top of COVID-19 we had an election here in the US. An election that turned out to be nothing we have ever seen before. Just madness… We will not forget this year anytime soon, and in ten or fifteen years it will be talked about in history books, reminding us again.
I have hopes for 2021! We just have to get through to the summer. Yes we have a vaccine to get us out of this mess with COVID-19, but we also have a lot of people to vaccinate, and not everybody is standing there with their arms ready for the shot. I do understand the hesitation of taking a vaccine that was worked on and developed in record time. On the other hand we have a virus that is spreading like a wildfire, and people are dying from it in numbers that are frightening. Herd immunity has been discussed, but the price is to high in lives lost so we have to get it through vaccine.
So what have I learned this year? Did I learn anything this year?
I want to believe I learned something. I knew before 2020 that I thrive by meeting people, and spending time with friends. Just to hang out over a cup of coffee, or a meal for a couple of hours and letting the conversation flow freely is exciting. I have missed the spontaneous meetings, the time when we didn’t think about whether the place had an outdoor area to sit in, or was even open. I miss the greetings with a hug, or handshake. I miss seeing people’s whole face, without feeling apprehensive, or even scared. Keeping a distance of six feet, and hoping others are wearing their mask correctly. The list can go on and on, but the big lesson here for me, and I believe many more felt that way this year, is that we are adaptable human beings. We easily get used to the recommendations if we just know why they are there.
We can live without that trip we planned to take. The big family and friend gathering can be a smaller one. The trips to the store can be fewer, and more planned than before. We can ware a face mask over our nose and mouths for eight hours at work, still breath, and communicate to our costumers. We can see people, but outside and a few chairs in between. Nothing of this has been easy, but we need to do what we can to protect ourselves and others. We are here to be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. It just seems harder than it really is fore some people.
So what have I learned this year, or what did COVID-19 teach me?
Frankly the big lesson was in the beginning. Learning that this virus was something we haven’t dealt with before, so we had to get used to changes of recommendations when new things about the virus was discovered. The ability to adapt and move on is another thing I realized is possible. I admit that there have been days when I feel like it will never end. The signs of quarantine fatigue hits. How long before a vaccine? What will the new normal look like? I have loved every minute of the small gatherings of friends or family that we have had during the year. All of these gatherings with safety precautions in our backyard. This is not just about me and my closest family or friends. This is a joint effort of the community, the country and the rest of the world. I can only hope that the doubters, and deniers of the virus will at the end understand, and follow the recommendations so we can start living safely again. It’s a process, and I believe it’s possible.
Two more days left of this year! 2020 don’t let the door hit you on the way out. 2021 you could not have come any sooner!
All I can say is, hang in there… At midnight on New Year’s Eve we lift our glasses and cheer in the new year!
??? HAPPY NEW YEAR, DEAR FRIENDS! ???