A Change of Perspective
Tag: perspective
Is It Time To Be Thankful Yet?
So, Thanksgiving just passed. Did we all remember to be thankful, or did we get mired down in complaining about not seeing the usual volume of family members and bemoan the current status of the COVID pandemic? I think that a lot of people fell into the second category, if they are being honest. I admit that, even though I have realized all of my current blessings, I still fall prey to the diffuse and sometimes oppressive fatigue of depression that has followed me around for the last 9 months, despite all my best efforts. This begs the question then, when is it time to be thankful? The answer is: RIGHT NOW! For a lot of us, things aren’t really going our way and haven’t for a long time. The economy is tough. Family relations are strained. Family members have been lost. People are fed up and spend a little too much time like little powder kegs ready to blow at the slightest opportunity for conflict. On top of that, the capacity for empathy is not so great right now. I have to admit that, even my standards for thankfulness have had to be lowered a bit just to keep things in perspective and convince myself that I am not “reaching too high.” …lol. Still, I am above ground, I have a family to miss, I have my health ( most days), and I still get to do what I love and take care of people. Essentially, it is all I really need so you betcha I am thankful. Don’t let me kid you. I have ” days” like everyone else. I am still human. We are all feeling the struggle right now. It’s a normal human response to the sense of loss of control and freedom. But, just when you feel that whine coming on I urge you to think twice before you do it. There is always the possibility that someone is worse off than you.
Dr. Katz
When is it time to stop whining and be grateful?
In a word….NOW! Yes, I mean now. Emotions are running hot and the stress level is high, but, it is still time to stop complaining and be grateful. Please. If you or a family member are not on a ventilator or have lost someone you love to COVID-19, please think before you speak about how this virus is inconveniencing you. It’s really boils down to that big of a picture. People are facing death with this thing. In comparison, the cancellation of activities is pretty minor. I get that the economic stress is significant as well. My husband and I just finished a somewhat grueling loan application process to try to keep our businesses and our employees afloat during this time. The whole thing just re-bubbled all my pent up anxiety to the surface again. I couldn’t help it. But, I had to take a step back and regain some perspective and be glad that this option is possibly available to us in the first place. There are no guarantees even if we are able to get the loan. I am hoping against hope that my own cleverness combined with opportunity and a good deal of altruism will carry me through somehow. I am working hard every day, even though I am supposed to be on vacation, researching ways to get through this thing. I am trying to figure out how to remind people through advertising that I intend to stick around without seeming tacky. I am begging lenders and trying to build bridges just like the rest of the world, while trying to keep my family’s spirits up, home cook every night and ration the toilet paper the best that I can. I know how hard it is. I understand what is going on. I am just asking that you take a second before posting your latest Covid complaint post and put things into perspective again. Tomorrow is never guaranteed, let’s try to enjoy today if we can. Have a great day everybody.
Dr. Katz