Tag: frustration

Thanksgiving

The actual definition of Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in the United States that commemorates the date in 1621 on which the colonists and the Wampanoag tribe shared a feast celebrating the Autumn harvest. There has been a lot of controversy regarding the accuracy of the retelling of this bit of history. Nonetheless we continue to celebrate it centuries later with turkey, family, football and feasting.

Why is Thanksgiving so important? The name kind of gives it away..Thanks giving. It is a day to give thanks and to celebrate gratititude. It is a day to realize the blessings you have and cherish them. It is a day to gather with family and tell stories. It is a day that is not focused on material things like gift giving. It celebrates positivity itself.

So, now that we know why Thanksgiving is important, let’s talk about the practice of it. How was your Thanksgiving? Did you celebrate family and what you have? Or did you bemoan the world in general, talk about COVID, and complain about what is not going your way? Our house was pretty peaceful and celebratory, but I am concerned that was not the norm or the majority for others. Do we still know how to be grateful and give thanks? Or is peaceful thankfulness just a distant memory for too many at this point? Sometimes I find it difficult to remember a time when the majority of people that I come across had at least one good thing to say or focus on. I am not asking for the world here. I am just asking to be able to start a conversation with someone that does not start with a complaint or some sort of discontent. I am guilty of it too at times. Most of the time, when someone asks me how I am doing I give my stock answer, “Living the dream!” I give this answer for several reasons: 1) I actually believe it, 2) I don’t want them to worry( there has been a lot to worry about lately), and 3) I know in my heart that most people don’t actually want to know. They are just asking to be polite. Other times I start rambling word vomit about everything that is going on or frustrating me before I can stop myself, even though I can tell immediately that the other person regrets asking by the look on their face.

I am not sure why I do it. I am basically a positive person and try my hardest to maintain that, even with everything that life has thrown at me lately. I really want to keep that going but even I fall into that trap that I feel like the rest of the world is in sometimes. So, I ask the big question again. Have we forgotten how to be grateful, positive, or happy? Is the norm of negativity so engrained at this point that there is no turning back? I hope not. I can tell you this though. If we don’t start looking a little harder for the things that give us joy and pushing aside the negative focus that is locking us in, the damage that we are causing to ourselves will be irreparable.

Dr. Katz

Is it ever going to be over?

Right now, I feel like we all have divided up our lives into two categories: pre-pandemic and during pandemic. I find myself using and thinking the phrase “before the pandemic” all the time. Before the pandemic I used to go to concerts and go on trips. Before the pandemic I had regular outings with friends. Before the pandemic, I didn’t think twice about going out. Before the pandemic, I had freedom. Before the pandemic, I didn’t weigh out every single social decision against the possible consequences. Now that has all changed. It’s not all bad. There is nothing wrong with actually weighing your decisions a little more carefully rather than flinging yourself into everything. On top of that, I have to admit that I have gained from the extra caution in the world now that I have cancer. I was already getting used to social distancing before my diagnosis. Now the reality of my vulnerable and immunosuppressed state is not such a shock. I have already been practicing the precautions. It is pretty much life as usual.

Still, I wish it were over. I understand all the precautions and the waiting to lift restrictions until more vaccine is distributed. I am just inpatient, even though the increased freedoms won’t really apply to me. I just want to see my friends and family live a little more. I just want to see them happier again. I feel like everyone is in the same boat. It’s ok to be frustrated. It is human nature.

Here is what I don’t understand. We have more than one vaccine now. Despite the perception that these vaccines are somehow new or rushed, the technology being used has been around for the last ten years or so. Yes, we are having issues with the order of availability. That is true. But, we are attempting distribution the best that we can. I say this even though my own hospital ran out of vaccine for me and I had to travel to get mine because other vaccine groups opened up before all of us physicians were vaccinated. Nonetheless, I was grateful to get it when I was able to, even though there was a significant wait. So, we have these vaccines, which are what people have been clamoring for all these months, and yet, many people are still declining them? The scare techniques against the vaccine are particularly insidious and unfortunately, effective. What is the point? The vaccine is our best option to get us closer to this all being over. Why holler and demand for answers and solutions and just shut them out once we get them? I get that there may be risks with the vaccine. There are risks with anything. But, I am here to tell ya, the risks of Covid are much greater than any risks the vaccine could impose. I guess it all boils down to one big question. If what we really want is for this to be over, why aren’t we more willing to do what it takes to make that happen?

Dr. Katz