May you live in interesting times:
There’s an old curse that goes, “May you live in interesting times,” and looking back, I don’t think 2020 could have been any more “interesting.”
With the arrival of a global pandemic, the return of Black Lives Matter to international attention, as well as the bizarre goings-on following the US presidential elections, we’ve all been through a lot.
It’s been a year filled with loss. People have lost their jobs, their businesses, their livelihoods and their loved ones. There has been so much pain and suffering, as well as an overwhelming sense of helplessness and uncertainty. We’ve been afraid, confused and lacking a sense of control for much of this year, and on top of which, we’ve never been lonelier.
In the past during crises such as this, we would lean on our loved ones for support but this year, we’ve had to isolate ourselves and deal with everything on our own. For single people living in tiny apartments, it’s been a real ordeal. For those in a relationship, it’s been make-or-break, as some couples have gotten closer through the pandemic and others have broken apart.
Our mental health has been strained to the maximum and this is demonstrated in our mental health workers being completely overloaded with referrals while at the same time, crisis hotlines across North America are ringing off the hook. We’re all in need of some good news.
There’s a light at the end of the tunnel:
Fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel. With the approval of the first COVID vaccines and the beginning of mass immunization, there’s a glimmer of hope amidst all the bleakness.
It’s been such a rough year that many of us have become somewhat hopeless and cynical, but science has prevailed and finally, we can start planning for brighter days. Even as we revise our holiday plans for this year, we can look to the future and start thinking about celebrating with our loved ones, next year.
It’s no surprise that during a crisis, science and research are what brought us to a solution. We’re all so fortunate to have world-class scientists and researchers here in Canada, the US and around the globe, working diligently on developing treatments and prevention strategies for this deadly pandemic.
For my part, I’ve never been busier. On the other hand, this year has been tremendously rewarding and I’ve had amazing opportunities for deepening my creativity, resourcefulness and compassion. I’ve spent a lot of time being grateful for what I do have, rather than focusing on what I’ve been missing.
With the arrival of the vaccine and a renewed faith in the benefits of science, we can move away from despair and begin to embrace hope. We can plan for brighter days because the end of this ordeal is in sight.
Of course, we must not let our guard down. Sure, we’re deep in the throes of COVID-fatigue but we don’t want to risk our health or the health of our loved ones while we’re in the home stretch. We owe it to ourselves and to our families to stay vigilant and keep following the advice of our public health departments. After all, we want everyone to be there for next year’s brilliant holiday celebrations.
Battered, bruised and bereft, we’ve somehow managed to make it through to the end of this terrible, awful year. That’s already something worth celebrating. With everything we’ve been through, we’re reminded of the value of kindness and the redemptive power of optimism.
A big thank-you to all the supporters of this blog:
In this holiday season, I want to thank you all for continuing to read the blogs, watch the videos, listen to the podcasts and subscribe to the newsletter. I hope that I’ve been able to offer insights, perspective and most of all, comfort during a truly unprecedented time. Your support uplifts me, inspires me, and keeps me doing what I do.
From my family to yours, I wish everyone a happy, healthy holiday season. Despite the loneliness, the isolation, the loss and the deprivations, we can all remember the love we have for one-another that has been amply demonstrated through remarkable acts of selflessness and altruism. And we can start looking forward to the good times that are surely ahead of us now.
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