Having mixed feelings?

It’s been a long pandemic. I happen to live in a place where lockdown continues but there seems to be some hope arising as vaccinations are becoming more readily available and the number of cases is going down. With this improvement and talk of re-opening, many people are having mixed feelings about resuming normal life. Not everyone is excited about getting back out there. There is a fair amount of fear and trepidation about how to resume ‘normal life’ (whatever that is). People are also evaluating what’s important and how they want to live going forward.

I can’t help myself from thinking a lot about the fact that we have all been impacted by the pandemic in some way, but we have also had very individual experiences. People who have been at the workplace seem to have less fear about being around others. Those who have been working from home since last March are feeling more cautious and worried. Many have been traumatized for a variety of reasons. We can’t draw on what we did in the past because we have never been here before. We can’t ask others because no one else knows what to feel or do either.

If there is one thing that I have been repeating as a piece of advice over and over, it is this: “do what feels right for you”. How do you figure out what feels right? Spend time with yourself. Think about what you are feeling during this time of transition. Reflect on what the experience has been like for you. Write it down. Instead of trying to avoid thinking about it, purposely think about it. Reflect on your feelings and be honest about them.

If you are having a lot of fear right now, it makes a lot of sense given the circumstances. Be patient with yourself and be honest with your loved ones if you can’t just jump back in full force. You may have to push yourself sometimes and it may take some time to trust again.

More than ever, it is a time to be gracious and generous towards yourself and others.

All of us will be facing a new normal and my hope is that we don’t forget the lessons learned during the pandemic.