The time has finally come. After over a year of isolation, fears, and confusion, life is beginning to return to normal. As of this writing, more than half the nation’s adults are fully vaccinated against covid-19, while younger ages are being included in that campaign as well. Public places and businesses are reopening, restaurants are filled with patrons for in-house dining, shows and concerts are selling tickets, and Broadway is coming back in September! This summer is shaping to be very different from the last one.
As all these possibilities avail themselves many still hesitate. Is it truly safe to go out and be in a crowd? Is flying in a plane safe even with a mask on? Are the measures I take to protect myself enough to keep me from danger? These and other questions represent genuine worries for one’s health and safety, but they have no satisfactory answers. It is really about studying facts and options, weighing risks, and making a decision.
Much like a person who avoids certain places or activities following a traumatic experience, worrying about activities such as in-house dining or commercial flying is a natural response to our recent experience. The storm by which the pandemic took over the world and the crisis it created in the healthcare industry stressed many medical facilities to the edge of their ability to provide proper care. The political fights further divided the partisan camps and pushed medical experts to fend for themselves while trying to carry their public duties responsively. These and more contributed to a tense drama in which we all participated. It is time for a change. We are returning to normal life, but each of us will be doing it in our unique way.
To do that safely and successfully there are a couple of elements we need to control first: our fears and lack of confidence. Although they have originated from the same experience, they need to be addressed separately.
Given all the above, feeling fearful is natural and completely reasonable; overcoming it requires the cessation of most of the emergency protocols and a gradual return to normal life. Restoring confidence can be achieved by mastering facts to mitigate risk factors and asserting better control over one’s choices. There are several simple actions you can take to achieve these:
- Do these activities with a trusted person. Choose someone more confident than you who could accompany you as you make your steps back into the outside.
- Consult reliable sources such as the CDC or local health professionals. Study the environment or activity you are interested in going into and find answers that address your worries. That will give you assurance and comfort and reduce your anxiety about them.
- Read the policies and restrictions specific locations or activities you plan to visit have, and call to speak with an official if you need clarifications. Knowing the rules in the environment you are going into and preparing accordingly will give you the assurance and safety you are seeking.
- Try not to cave to public pressure. Do things at your own pace and maintain control over your activities.
Transitions are hard, and this one is especially difficult given the risks. Do these things gradually, and take them each at your own pace to avoid encounters that may lead to setbacks. Plan without rushing into things and keep yourself in control throughout the process. With success comes confidence, and you will find yourself more comfortable with each successful experience. Hopefully, you will find yourself in your restored normal environment soon enough.
As always, I welcome you to contact me should you need assistance with reacquiring your freedom in all its forms.