Let's make a special Christmas.
Without a doubt, we face a different Christmas, but that is not why we would have to give them up. Definitely this Christmas is going to be special. First of all, because for more than 1,5 million families all over the word (50.000 only in Spain), will not be able to sit at their table that loved one, who had lost during the COVID pandemic, reopening a not closed wound of mourning. For the rest, they will also be different, since we are still in a situation of health alert and therefore obliged to continue with health warnings and precautions.
Said that, there is no reason to resign yourself to missing Christmas too. Let's start from the acceptance of the reality that we have ahead of us, that will allow us to find a full and different but satisfactory celebration. Without abandoning the true meaning of Christmas, maintaining the illusion and the Christmas spirit. We will have to transform Christmas into a more intimate process, certainly without large gatherings, but celebrations after all. We will try to anticipate and prepare for the worst, even if we hope for the best. This strategy will help us manage our already battered emotions.
Since March many resignations are being made, which are not always seen in those who should lead by example. Still, our society is giving a great lesson in citizenship. As Christmas is coming up, maybe it's time to ask. To ask for measures that allow a margin to regain a certain normality. Of course, it is not a good idea at all, to go out as it was done last summer, but perhaps if we ask for a bit of rationality and emotionality, thinking especially on these older people who are seeing how after months of loneliness, they are approaching a lonely Christmas and also in the little ones, who after months of confinement and bubble groups, yearn for Christmas like that breath of fresh air, after months of emotional suffocation.
Perhaps some reflections can help to take the best decisions. Why not, instead of restricting family gatherings, is not facilitated a more agile access to diagnostic tests for COVID that allow safer meetings? A limit of 6 is proposed in many places, why not 5 or 7? Thinking minds have surely reached that number after thoughtful reflection and calculation of the risk of contagion based on the incidence and virus transmission. Therefore, many of us are quite surprised
that an adjustment for zones and incidents cannot be made. Is there really the same risk if my town has an incidence of less than 200 cases as if it has more than 1000 cases / 100,000 inhabitants?
Maybe this is a good time to give up “the coffee for everyone”, (do the same in all cases), and think about people's needs.
Do you really think that is fine that a widow who lost her husband in April in the first wave of COVID spends Christmas Eve alone. We can only appeal to the humanity of our leaders, as there is another balance, one that safeguards physical and emotional health. It is more complex, yes, but required of those who have been asking us to resign after resignation without a sufficiently clear horizon.
Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year. Best wishes