Everything literally took a turn when the number went from ’19 to ’20. This new decade…I don’t want it. Uh uh. Honestly, it’s too much at this point! From one restriction level to another; when you think we’re close to no restriction level … BOOM … back to level three.
I believe for many of us, this year alone has sharpened us in ways we never imagined. From job loss to losing friends and family and even just the idea of being locked in your own home with no real freedom.
So many times I thought of packing my travel luggage and passport and escape but uhm…escape where? Since the beginning of this pandemic, I’ve felt more like a prisoner than I’d like to admit granted by the restrictions we’re currently living under. Just the thought of not being able to travel or leave to any other country feels like the walls are caving in.
Kind of like being in an escape room BUT the gag is…there’s no clue! (Queue evil laugh)
The more I think of the current state of the world, the more I resonate with the writing of Ben Okri in his book called The Freedom Fighter. In the book’s overture he writes “It is known in the oldest legends that all are born in prison. This prison is all they know.” As I reflect on our current reality, this earth; this world is all we know. Though there may be other countries, no matter where you go the reality of this pandemic will catch up to you in one form or the other. As he writes “This is all there is….so we might as well make the most of it”, no truer words have been written!
“This is all there is….so we might as well make the most of it”
Ben Okri – The Freedom Fighter
The new debate – get pricked or stay masked!
In the beginning of this pandemic many of us were flabbergasted by the thought of being forced to wear a mask. When that mandate came about, my first thought was “I ran away from doing medicine to being forced to wear a surgical mask?!? What an irony” — context: my father is a medical doctor and he pictured no other career for his oldest daughter than medicine. While medicine is a dream for some, from my point of view, it certainly was not my calling. Anyway, there I was laughing at myself walking into a grocery with a surgical mask.
Fast forward to today, wearing a mask has become a natural part of our routine that even walking out the door feels wrong without a mask strapped to your face.
While some argue that the pandemic is a conspiracy; from debates about masks to whether COVID is real.
From a personal stand point, yes! I believe it is. I’ve had family members go through it and I’ve witness more people in my circle losing a family member to believe anything else.
While I believe in the reality that we’re living, the idea of being vaccinated still scares me.
I have a freakin’ degree in Biochemistry!!! Can you imagine knowing what a vaccine can do for me and being hesitant to take it? Yet here I am trying to reconcile the adverse effect that some experience after being vaccinated — that’s not to say I am against it and while I know the potential good it could do for me I can’t seem to make up my mind on the subject.
So why am I hesitant?
It’s really just the need sit a while and read more before making the jump. Perhaps it’s the scientist in me who wants to read more research reports and understand this virus more. Honestly, whatever you decide I respect your opinion and will always welcome the advice of others — RESPECTFULLY.
With that said, “Get Vaxed or Stay Masked?” Well, I guess I am staying masked for now. I will update y’all should this change of course!
Where to from here?
There’s a saying in medicine that says: “prevention is better than cure” and I strongly believe that.
So if you’re in space of questioning whether this pandemic is a real (despite the rising numbers in case and death?! I am not judging but let’s me real yo?!?) I would rather we do whatever we have to care for ourselves and those around us.
My advocacy
This leads me to my advocacy which is: to live selflessly is to see life as a depiction of many different realities. My definition of humanity is the ability to see the experience of others and live in empathy to realize that the reality of others can very much be ours. Therefore none is greater or superior to another. The pain of others should challenge us to reason their pain and forge a relationship that heals and unites.
Until you’ve touched on those realities and made an impact however small your capacity; you haven’t really understood what it means to be human.
And so coming back to this pandemic, while we may debate on what is true and what is not, and whether vaccines are helping us or not, let’s remember to be mindful of one another and just wear the damn mask! It won’t kill you. Let’s protect one another and trust that God will lead us and see us through — He has shown us his power already (if you’re reading this…we’ve made it this far — that’s His power!). Let’s hold one another in our thoughts and prayers.
Let’s work collectively and respectfully educate one another to get back to some form of normalcy before the masks and all the surprises that came with it. While we pray for this, let’s keep those who have lost a loved one in our prayers or those who are struggling to make it through during these unconventional financial times we’re living under.
Until next time, stay safe!
Locke'_n_Words 