A year ago today, the US Death toll, due to Coronavirus disease, had just crossed 100; and a Shelter in Place order went into effect. I started writing that night to process the world, and my situation with Covid-19. I promised to write nightly sharing reflections of my Gratitude, my Concern, my Prayer for that day. I was alone and unsure of so much. At that time I thought I’d be sheltered for a few weeks. After 117 days of being sheltered; and each of those nights writing for this blog, I needed to take a break. Perhaps the theme of the past year was taking time to go deep inside my soul. To forge ahead and try things; and assess and reassess and repeat.
With my work with people at end of life, I already lived each day as full as I could, recognizing it could be the last. This last year, I have found deeper ways to savor life, especially as I witnessed so much death, increasing exponentially with each passing day.
On this one year mark, In the continued midst of a pandemic and global health crisis, and a disruption to the way things were; I offer these reflections.
Gratitude...
The ways humans pivoted.
How we found new ways of reaching out to others.
The chance to connect and reconnect with people in new ways.
New and healthier habits and routines.
Learning what to let go of; and what to hold on to.
Three approved vaccines, and each day the increased ability for people to receive the vaccine.
My two Moderna vaccines completed on March 4; and today my daughter receiving her second Pfizer vaccine.
Always grateful for my family and loved ones and friends!
Concern...
The enormous losses of life, health and security.
Multitudes who have lost income, housing, food security.
Multitudes who have had the virus and have ongoing effects.
Multitudes who have died from Coronavirus.
Continued grief on many levels… from those who could not be with their loved ones at end of life, to those who serve on front lines to care for and tend to other’s needs, in the midst of their own needs for care.
Praying this night…
for the losses
for the grief
for the lessons learned
for the uncertainty that remains
for the healing
for the 68.7 million people Worldwide who have recovered from Coronavirus
for the 2.68 million people Worldwide who have died from Coronavirus; 538,000 of those in the US
“You forget the life you had before, after a while. Things you cherish and hold dear are like pearls on a string. Cut the knot and they scatter across the floor, rolling into dark corners never to be found again. So you move on, and eventually you forget what the pearls even looked like. At least, you try.”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
I light a candle this night … and remember the pearls…
May it be so…
