JeffCo Health Department Update: 6/9/2021

The past few weeks have allowed me some time for reflection on the past year. Here is no doubt this has been a difficult year. Our lives and routines have been disrupted. We have been pushed outside our comfort zones and have faced the fragility of life. As a society I am hearing more and more that we want to “go back to normal.” I have been thinking about what that normal is going to look like. I often joke that at our house “normal” is a dryer cycle.

Maya Angelou has said, “If you’re always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.” There is no doubt this past year has been less than normal. COVID-19 has changed many of the ways we live and cope. However, there have also been some amazing things I have noticed. So, as I work to go back to “normal”, I want to keep and embrace some of those noteworthy things.

After a hard life experience, I often recognize growth and lessons learned. Some of the growth I have noticed in myself and in our society is an ability to be more flexible and adaptable. Being adaptable helps us to live a more rounded life and have a fuller existence.

We have learned new skills. We have tried new ways of doing things. We have learned how to do many things remotely. We can work and connect with people including our loved ones in new ways. In many ways this broadens our circles and allows us flexibility. Let’s continue to be flexible and learn to be “perfectly imperfect.”

It has been necessary to reflect on our own physical and mental health. We have engaged in candid conversations and prioritized those things that keep us healthy. That focus allows us to know our needs better and work on personal improvement. Self-care has been a necessity not a luxury. Let’s focus more on our physical and mental health.

The pandemic has affected each of us in different ways. There was no guidebook to help us navigate this time. The bleakness of this year has brought new light to the good things we experience. The simple things that bring joy. The kindnesses that give hope. We have proven our resilience. Let’s live in gratitude daily.

The loss and suffering we have felt this year will have a long-lasting impact.

As we work to get back to normal, we have an opportunity to re-define what that means. Let’s work together to create something amazing.