For most of my adult life, I've filtered what news I pay attention to. Convinced that our nervous systems are not wired to process events that are beyond our control and sphere of influence, I watched enough to be informed and still be able to function without the paralyzing fear that the world is going to hell in a handbasket. I can look around my immediate surroundings and still find evidence of acts of kindness and service, people going about their daily business, joyful moments occurring on a fairly regular basis.
The pandemic changed that. Like it or not, we are a global society, and a virus on the other side of the world can very well indeed impact locally in the not-so-distant future. With friends and family around the globe, I have reasons to pay attention to the news about COVID.
And the numbers are rising. Here we go again.
I feel fortunate to have been vaccinated, along with my husband and son. My daughter and her husband, living in Japan, have not been afforded that opportunity yet.
I know that the vaccinations don't guarantee prevention of infection or transmission. I am choosing to remain masked for that reason--to protect myself, to protect others, to remain healthy enough to greet my daughter and her husband when they come home. They are already planning their trip to the vaccination clinic, as soon as their quarantine will allow.
Chalk this Tuesday Slice up to another entry in the COVID diaries.
I will always read Covid diary entries!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I have family abroad who haven’t had the opportunity to be vaccinated yet. Like you, I am watching the big picture. Like you, I am continuing cautious.
I do think your first paragraph presents a very interesting idea. We do control what we are anxious about and avoid what we have no control over. But in a global world we do have to care about more. It does/has created anxiety. I wonder if you might explore that idea more in another piece.
Thank you for sharing this. All of our CVID restrictions have been lifted and I walk in the park mask free, but I am not yet ready to be indoors without a mask. We each need to make the decisions best for us and our loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the news-watching approach - just enough to be informed but without paralyzing fear of imminent and utter destruction. Like you, I am mindful that the vaccinations are to greatly minimize the effects of COVID-19 should we get it, and not a guarantee of not getting it at all. Wisdom is always the answer. Never steers us wrong. Wishing you and your family ongoing safety and wellness, especially for your children as they return home.
ReplyDelete