COVID isn’t gone, however, it’s time to stop isolating and avoiding your life. We have learned how to protect ourselves, and it’s time to resume or reinvent your life. It’s time to shake off the COVID fear and stop using the pandemic to hide.
In March of 2020, our world as we knew it was turned upside down. The coronavirus swept through our country, and the world, like a fast-moving plague. People became infected, sick, and were dying of this mysterious, novel virus. We were urged to wear masks and gloves and stay 6ft away from each other when we ventured out of our homes. We were told to shelter-in-place as much as we could. There was no school, no sports, no concerts, and no visiting friends or family. The protective gear we were told we needed to stay COVID-free was scarce in supply. There was a shortage of food, paper goods, hand sanitizer, and disinfects and not catching COVID was the #1 goal of millions of Americans. It is now 2021, and the extreme conditions of 2020 are over.
During President Joe Biden’s first six months in office, COVID infections, hospitalizations and deaths declined. His vaccine rollout was executed with targeted goals to vaccinate, at no cost, as many Americans as possible. Biden’s programs were working and still are. Despite extreme political opposition, he has continued to prioritize protecting the public health of all Americans and restoring the economy.
Despite improvements in controlling the spread of the pandemic, it is understandable to feel traumatized, fearful or immobilized. However, vaccines, affordable and available testing, and mask mandates have enabled restaurants, sports venues, entertainment venues, and schools to reopen. There is no need to shelter in our homes anymore, and there are currently more job openings than there are applicants to fill those jobs. It is still important to practice safety protocols when required, but restrictions have lessened, and working, recreating, and traveling are now options once again. The problem many face now when contemplating venturing out into living more fully is psychological. Making the transition back to resuming a more active life is harder for many than was expected. Being socially isolated and/or unemployed lowers confidence and self-esteem so devising a plan to slowly resume activity out of your house and off Zoom are crucial steps to take.
Additional challenges being faced are the fear of getting infected with the new Delta variant, feeling uncomfortable at becoming socially active again, and searching for a job. Other obstacles in breaking COVID isolation behaviors are 1) recovering from the trauma of the mismanagement of the beginning of the pandemic, 2) watching the thousands of fellow Americans die of COVID, and 3) the crash of the economy and personal finances. However, with a new administration in place, there is renewed optimism to absorb and use as motivation to resume life or reinvent yourself. Despite the presence of the Delta variant, the economy is recovering, the baseball playoffs are underway, and the Rolling Stones are appearing in Los Angeles tonight. Life is resuming and it’s time to develop a “can do” attitude so a more empowered, hopeful, and optimistic outlook will guide you back into your post-pandemic life.
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