It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Of course, after everything that has happened in the past 20 months, this holiday season is different than most. I mean this in the sense that is definitely happier and more uplifting than last year, considering that there have been vaccines manufactured and things are looking up in the COVID-19 world. Last year’s holiday festivities for me consisted of socially distanced seeing my friends, wishing I could hug my loved ones, and not getting to experience the holidays like I’m used to. This year, my friends and family members are vaccinated and rekindling holiday magic.
Christmas has always been my favorite holiday – the music, the lights, the movies, the spirit – it all encompasses finishing the year off in a positive light. Even the toughest and crappiest of years end up in the holiday season without fail. Even just writing this, the commercials on TV are all about the upcoming season, the snow (despite living in Florida) and being with the people in your life.
One of my favorite things about the human experience is the fact that people are naturally attracted and connected to those in their life during the holidays – physical and emotional connections thrive and I see family members that I haven’t in such a long time.
But this holiday season, I do have a bone to pick. Despite this being the year “after” COVID-19, I think many people have jumped to assuming that this means that COVID-19 is a thing of the past when this isn’t the case or reality that we are facing. People are still contracting and getting infected with COVID-19 daily and it’s worrying that the public concern about this has gone down. With COVID-19 still being alive and well, are people still being cautious when it comes to getting in contact with people that are outside of their immediate family?
This is also the first year that different kinds of vaccinations have been manufactured and distributed on a widespread scale to most Americans and it raises the question of the right way to keep family gatherings safe. People have gone viral showing group messages mandating that all those who attend Thanksgiving dinner be vaccinated in order to protect those with weaker immune systems, older family members and just for the good of people around them.
It’s definitely weird, this time that we are in. The minute that I came home from my Halloween party the little Mariah Carey in my head activated as I set up my desktop Christmas tree and hung my lights. Things are not the same as they used to be, but at least this year I can kiss my grandparents and give them a big hug as we get together on Christmas Eve night. There is no telling what the holidays are going to look like a year from now. I hope all is much merrier and bright as we try to get rid of a COVID-19 world.