Be patient with ourselves and our feelings!

It’s been two years since the pandemic that has killed millions globally and altered lives of millions in ways big and small. Fear arising out of uncertainty has routed our optimism about the future. We cannot forget those plans, be it birthdays, travels, weddings — everything has been taken away by the unprecedented situation. Gloomily, we cannot do anything about it.

Yet we are now able to get back to the people and things we love. We are now much better prepared mentally and physically with more experience to beat the pandemic as compared to last year albeit the mandatory restrictions are still in place.

To be more precise, we’re in a much better shape than before when getting a drug from a medical store or any other essential item from the market involves a scramble. Even to get the vaccine we had to nail down a place in line.

Still we are worried about the pace of the changes or what the future has in store for us as the Omicron now is fueling a rise in cases again. But what is required or important is to become patient with ourselves and with our feelings.

We need to exercise caution. Whether closer to a common cold, a flu or even coronavirus infection, we should be watchful of the risk while not allowing it to play a major disruptor in our routines.

Adding to the optimism is the result from vaccination as it helps curb the lethality of the Covid-19 and its variants. True to a recent post, “if you’re vaccinated you can start to live your life again.” Those who are vaccinated and boosted are highly protected against severe disease and death!

Health experts believe it will no longer represent a major public health danger to those who are immune through either vaccination or natural infection.

Still everything depends on the way we live, work, travel, attend school, gather and enjoy life! We have to adhere to the advice that the vaccine doesn’t prevent infection, just as the flu vaccine doesn’t necessarily keep you from getting the flu. But you’re likely to have an easier time of it.

Even as vaccines are the key element in drawing down the pandemic as we know it, it won’t be a simple return to the world before Covid-19. With the emergence of new variants, it is likely that we will have to live with the scare that is expected to last for more months.

It is also likely that we might need to get regular Covid boosters going forward. Some experts say that the vaccines could become an annual occurrence, similar to the flu shot.

Taking care of ourselves and others is something so underestimated nowadays. But, ultimately, when we do take care of ourselves and our needs is when we’re best able to show up for all of the other people and responsibilities in our lives. We only need to respect the recommendations and measures issued by the authorities, to protect ourselves and others.

So precautions like social distancing and wearing masks will still be needed until there is widespread immunity to the virus.

We are not the same population that we were in December of 2019. It’s different ground now. All can end sooner or later. Focus on what is important to us. Do not forget that the earth will continue to spin, and life will flow accordingly.