This past weekend, I took part in my university’s graduation and have noticed that many schools and colleges have also come back to a modified normal this year. We were on the football field instead of inside, and we wore masks. While my classes are all online anyway, many of the campus classes met in person all year with some social distancing and wearing masks. The only exception that I have seen is Governor Reeves order of May 3 for schools to continue the routine pandemic practices until school is dismissed for the year.
Some stores and businesses still require you to wear a mask inside, but many have relaxed this to personal choice. It seems that the majority of people have either received one of the vaccinations or have plans to. This is in contrast to the initial concern and even fear about the vaccine being potentially harmful or part of a socialist takeover effort.
While we return to a semblance of normal, we do seem to have embraced a new normal with integration of lessons learned from the experience. That is always a benefit of life challenges. I think we are more cautious about our socializing so as to avoid unnecesary exposure to different kinds of potential harm. I think we are perhaps more inclined to take advantage of shopping needs closer to home. I think that many of us have also found that we enjoy more time at home.
As with any life challenge, living through the Covid pandemic has prompted some stress and some harm. There have been many deaths that might have been later otherwise. There have been some loss of job time and some limitations on some socialization that was routine. But we have also become stronger through it – as we tend to do with any life challenge. It is like the practice of pruning a fruit tree or rose bush. Being cut back may seem harsh in some ways, but it strengthens the capacity for productivity. After all, aren’t we here to serve a purpose and not just take up space?
