What a whirlwind this year has been! In just a few dramatic months, the world has changed drastically. Once upon a time, masks and scrubs were only worn by medical professionals and other individuals required to don them by rules of dress code. Nowadays, pretty much every person you see on the street is wearing a mask, or a face shield of some sort, and teachers are shopping for nursing scrubs! Just a year ago, no one would have dreamed that there wouldn’t be enough medical supplies to go around. No one could have foretold how our lives and our society would be transformed.
And here we are, at the threshold of 2021. Our society has changed, but we have, too. This year has taught us many lessons. Here are just a few to contemplate.
1: Self-Care isn’t Selfish
Caring for others is important. Who knows that better than nurses who have chosen to spend countless hours doing what they can to help people heal? But COVID-19 is showing us that sometimes, by caring for ourselves, we’re caring for others, too. One instance of this would be wearing a mask. By wearing a mask, I’m caring for myself, but I’m also protecting others. Self-care isn’t selfish. It never is. In this article from Becker’s Hospital Review, you can learn self-care tips from other nurses working on the front lines.
2: Nothing Lasts Forever
There’s a famous saying, “This too shall pass.” When we’re in the thick of something, the situation can cloud our vision, not allowing us to focus on anything else. For instance, if you remember way back in March, all people could think about was COVID-19. But with time everything passes; it’s the way of life. Nothing lasts forever. There was a time before the pandemic, and there will be time after. It’s an encouraging lesson for life: You may feel stuck, and you can’t get your mind off of something for weeks on end. And that thing can be a major force in your life at that time! But even while you’re in the thick of a crisis, always remember that there will be an end. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
3. You’re Not in Control
Sometimes, we feel we have life under control. The problem with that is that as soon as something doesn’t work out, we can get extremely frustrated. COVID-19 has shown us that we’re not in control. We can do what’s within our ability, but that’s it. Once we’re aware that it’s not up to us, it’s much easier to relax, and accept reality instead of trying to fight what we can’t change.
Sometimes, it’s hard to focus on the positive when things as a whole look so bleak and bleary. But there are silver linings to everything, if we only dare to look carefully, and let ourselves focus on finding them.
This year wasn’t easy for any medical professional; no one will deny that. But finally, the vaccines are coming, hopefully heralding a happier, healthier new year!
- Looking Back at 2020: Three Lessons to Take Forward - December 31, 2020