I could not have been more excited to share the above photo on social media the minute I had the first dose of the vaccine. It was given to me as the most amazing Christmas gift on December 24th. I received the second dose this past week and had no issues with it. I am so thankful to now be fully vaccinated. For me, and I think for all of my fellow health care providers, the chance to be in the first group receiving the vaccine felt like a bit of hope during this seemingly hopeless time.
We are then faced with virus mutations, extended timeframes to vaccinate the population and persistently overwhelmed hospitals. When will this ever end? I think we all ask ourselves that question on a routine basis. It is hard to believe we have been dealing with this for almost a year now, and it's even harder to feel like we are possibly another year or more away from returning to some type of normalcy.
We had such hope as we celebrated the new year, but of course the first few weeks of 2021 have been no better. I don't think anyone expected some miraculous change as we simply went from Dec 31 to Jan 1, but as we look back on 2020 as one of the worst years in recent history, we look ahead with the feeling that 2021 will have to be better. So how do we hang on to the hope that better days are coming? I wish I had the answer. Some days it seems like there is no end in sight, and it is very easy to dwell on everything we are missing out on.
While I understand how important it is to be thankful for what I have right now, I am also a firm believer in making the most of your days and living life to the fullest. Tomorrow is promised to no-one, and sadly many have dealt with the worst possible loss, that of a loved one, due to this terrible virus. We are trying to figure out how to move forward despite all the loss and limitations, but I think it can often feel as if we are putting our lives on hold in many ways. It is so difficult to make any plans for the future with all of the continued restrictions and uncertainty.
Celebrations, stadiums, concerts....and what I wouldn't give for a packed dance floor! These are all the things that were a big part of my life, and along with travel, all the things I hold out hope to return to. Of course some of these things have happened on a smaller scale, but this life, this "new normal" is something that still feels so foreign. We have to hold on to the belief that this unprecedented time will come to an end, and we will be able to enjoy being social human beings again with the freedom to safely gather and go anywhere we want.
I don't have the answer, and my initial excitement and true joy about receiving the vaccine has definitely diminished due to the ongoing struggles and record breaking numbers of cases and hospitalizations. If we can just see these numbers trend down globally as the numbers of vaccinated people trend up, I think it will be a chance to have hope. As I approach a big milestone birthday later this year, I remain hopeful that I can have a celebration. I hope there will be a reason to celebrate far more meaningful than just that birthday. I sincerely hope that by May, the pendulum will have swung in the other direction and we will truly be seeing light at the end of what has been a very long tunnel.🤞🏻
As we celebrate Martin Luther King today...let's not lose hope...better days are coming❤️