Done with this pandemic? You’re not alone. But we cope with our despondence in different ways. Some surrender. Others choose to soldier on.
I’m tired too. I’m tired of staying down, staying safe and staying away from the company of people I can no longer have long lunches and candid conversations with, face-to-face.
Entering the third year of this pandemic—that is my monumental discovery. I cannot volunteer for indefinite Mars residency. The claustrophobia of a bubble will kill me. Eventually.
I dream of the life I had before and wonder if I’ll ever live that life again.
Will I ever fly again to another continent? Will I get to plan another gorgeous get-away to some far-off destination? The idea just seems so remote. Now. Will I ever see my friends again from across the globe?
And do I have time?
Will my legs and lungs still be strong enough to get me to the places I want to go to? Will I still have the energy and enthusiasm to embark on those journeys of exploration? Will I still have the patience and the passion to walk on the wild side?
Will I still be around when this pandemic is over? Or will I have lost so much that I will be unrecognizable. I want to be physically safe but I also want to be mentally sound.
The pandemic is not over. But it’s time to move on.
I am, however, not as intrepid as others. I live with my 96-year-old father. I cannot risk bringing Covid-19 home. But who’s to say that I don’t live with compromised immunity, as well?
So, I choose to hunker down, wait with bated breath and hope for a safer world to arrive. Soon. Or at least, before I lose my mind.
Do what you must to stay safe, healthy and sound. But have compassion for those who cannot move on as quickly and boldly as you can. We all move at a different pace because we are all in a different place.
Have empathy for the vulnerable. No one can protect them except the people around them.
Vaccination remains the only viable solution to saving lives during this pandemic. But there are those who cannot be vaccinated and those who cannot mount a sufficient immune response against Covid-19 despite vaccination.
Do we just let them risk their lives? Do we just let them die? Are their lives worth less because they are old, sick or frail? One day, we will all be old, sick or frail. Will our lives not be worth saving?
Do what you must for your mental health but don’t do it at the expense of another person’s physical health.
So, as tired as I am of this pandemic, I’m not ready to throw in the towel. Or to throw away my masks. I’m going to follow the safety protocols as best as I can. I’m going to do everything to protect the vulnerable.
Much as I wish to declare I’m done with this pandemic, I can’t. I will not surrender. I will soldier on.