Day 354

 Today is Saturday February 27, 2021

We are in a phase of the pandemic where vaccinations are being administered daily. Number of transmissions and deaths are dropping (but still are in large numbers) The world for the most part just seems to have adapted to the pandemic lifestyle. We have multiple masks in multiple places (cars, home, handbags, backpacks, jacket pockets) We work with masks, walk with masks, we sanitize and wash our hands more than we ever have before. In some cases I imagine people have resigned themselves to a possible future that is always like this. Experts have said the virus will most likely never go away. 

Which means we will probably have a choice for a seasonal vaccine each year. The mask culture will wane in a way where less people will feel the need once the virus numbers are very low. While others will see wearing a mask as a line of protection against not only the virus, but any germs they may encounter in largely populated events or circumstances that feel unsafe. I imagine a world where air travel may be down for a some time and travel in general may become less frequent. 

The evolution of the world is natural. Things change. Our climate has and will continue to do so. Our technology is changing rapidly. Our societal norms are even shifting. Even how people view themselves and accept others is an ever changing process.

And as the generations of old pass on the younger generations will view all of life from their perspective and further develop and create the world how they see it. 

We, ourselves, are not the same person we were five, three or even a year ago. 

As we discover the ever changing world we further discover ourselves and we adapt to what we experience on both small and large levels. The experiences we encounter shape who we become, but ultimately we can choose to some extent which experiences we want and more importantly how we perceive them. Viktor Frankl said, in regards to this..."Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."

This pandemic will most likely change the world to some extent and how we perceive certain aspects of life (travel, crowds, sanitization, health habits, etc) as the pandemic itself is changing. 

The pandemic is likely to become an endemic similar to Influenza and other human coronaviruses. 

This seems inevitable, but the path it takes and the pattern it tattoos onto our world is a mystery to scientists. 

There are some theories. One is it could become a virus mostly seen in the young with milder symptoms or even none at all. The idea the virus being completely eradicated could occur in pockets of the world where a higher percentage (55+%) are vaccinated. However getting to 55% is proving difficult in most places. And if all social distancing restrictions were lifted the percentage would need to be closer to +65%.

With a vaccine that prevents transmission and can hold off variants it is possible the virus becomes akin to measles (mostly eliminated in most parts of the world with two shots). There is also the chance this is not the last coronavirus we see. So Love a lot. Live each day with passion and meaning. And adapt as only we humans can. Keep discovering.