A Message of Hope Even With So Many Still Dying

Do your part to end the pandemic, so you too can feel optimistic about the future.

Today I can't help but reflect. Over one year later, the pandemic continues to dominate the news.

Many countries affected by new strains and variants still grapple with the inability to get the virus under control.

The hopelessness of a people felt from afar.

One such country is India.

It brought back memories of the United States of America, similarly impacted by the pandemic for much of 2020. New York City where I live, once the epicenter.

Recent data suggests India in an even worst situation with alarming numbers of daily new COVID cases, thousands of deaths, and a healthcare system collapsing, unable to handle the magnitude of infected patients.

For many, the simple traditional dignity of burying loved ones — COVID has robbed them.

Unite for a solution.

But as many feel hopeless with no clear hope insight; I encourage you to hang in there, with hope, better days will come.

“You’re a fighter. Look at everything, you’ve overcome; Don’t give up now.” — averstu.com.

But the authorities cannot do it by themselves. You too need to play your part. Practical simple guidelines are very impactful and can yield big results.

Wear your mask, wash your hands, practice social distancing. These are just some of the simple things you can do, to protect yourself and others.

The guidelines that are in place aren't meant to deliberately restrict and control anyone. They’re just necessary measures put in place by the authorities to put an end to the pandemic so we all can get back to the life we are accustomed to.

It wasn't too long ago, I too felt hopeless. I even harbor thoughts, the world may be coming to an end. I recall watching on television, the busy, vibrant New York city under total lockdown. The health care system was under so much pressure, the eyes of nurses and doctors filled with despair above the masks they wear.

Every day, weeks unending, the bad news was the order of the day. Thousands of new infections, deaths, and sadness. We were a nation under attack by a deadly pandemic.

I watched with fear every single day then, thinking it was just a matter of time, I too could get infected.

Renewed hope and optimism

But today New Yorkers, New Jersey, and other states within the US, are contemplating its re-opening strategy.

Not letting our guards down, but taking the precautions necessary with baby steps along the way. Hopefully, soon it will be safer to stand on our two feet again.

“Tough times never last, but tough people do.” — Robert Schuller

We now talk of our COVID experiences as a measure of where we’re coming from. What we’ve achieved, and where we are headed.

The vaccines played a major role in making all this possible. Think twice about vaccine hesitancy.

It is proof that the vaccines work.

Everyone now has their unique and personal COVID stories to tell — From being infected with the virus, hospitalized, losing jobs, and standing in line at a food bank to feed their families.

The inability to pay rent or mortgage loans is just one of the many other circumstances some faced. Then there are those of us with more heartfelt and sad experiences that are harder to comprehend — The loss of close friends and loved ones, some directly from within our households.

The loneliness, silent emptiness, a void seem unable to fill.

Globally, as of 11:33 am CEST, 3 May 2021 there have been 152,387,917 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 3,195,624 deaths, reported to the WHO — source, World Health Organization dashboard- COVID-19.

A lot has happened over the past year. COVID has changed many of our lives. But now we have become resilient and have adopted in many different ways.

It’s what is needed to move on.

Show gratitude

If you’re not a part of this statistic, consider yourself lucky. You have a lot to be thankful for. Many hadn't made it to tell their own COVID tale.

And if you weren’t impacted significantly by COVID, you need to double the gratitude like I have, and count your blessings too. Because even in the worst of times some will not just survive but thrive.

Whatever your COVID story is right now; be thankful you’re alive today.

With life; there is hope for better days to come.