Well, here in Colorado we’ve celebrated (if that’s the word you want to use) the year of COVID as of March 5, when the first diagnosed case was recorded in 2020. During that year we all endured a lot. Businesses being shut down. Masks. Elections. Stay at Home orders. Riots. Cancelled family visits and vacations. I could go on, but this blog isn’t about all that. At least not exactly.
It’s about social media, and media in general. And the communications we’ve been seeing and reading over the last year. Most of which were sad, negative, or just plain bad news. I’ve heard, read, and seen so many over the top posts (not on RMFW, of course!) that I found myself blocking social media right and left.
I don’t know about all of you, but I am ready for a new year. January really didn’t seem like a fresh start. It was full of the same old, or worse. So I’m declaring that March 5 is my official New Year. We have vaccines rolling out like crazy (I got my first shot this week), they’re talking about opening up the county—and perhaps the state—next month due to dropping cases and ballooning vaccine rates.
I want people to rachet it down a bit. Look for the good instead of assuming the bad. Let someone cut in front of you in line. Hold a door open for someone (even if you have to use your elbow). Stop, just for a second, before saying something snarky, and see if there’s a chance to say something kind.
I want to see people smile again. It’s too hard to tell by the crinkle of their eyes above their mask.
I want to go out to dinner and not stand away from everyone breathing through a mask that smells like… well, we won’t go into that.
I want A VACATION, not a staycation.
I don’t want to hear any more fights about masks or no masks, personal right to not be exposed or personal right not to wear.
I want to write! I want to be happy and healthy enough to write. I want to be able to go out in the world and see things to write about. Go to the library to do research (yes, I still do that). Go to the store to buy a fun new journal or pen so I can write down those things I see.
I want an in-person Gold Conference! (And I think I might just get one, from the sounds of it—I can hardly wait!)
I don’t want more Zoom meetings. They’ve been a Godsend during COVID, but I’m so done with them.
And most of all, I want to WRITE ON!
What about you? Are you ready for a New Year Celebration? What plans do you have?
With you 100%. My writing is greatly informed by my travels. Wen and I have already booked a flight out of the country now that we are fully vaccinated. We’re sad our favorite dance spots are permanently shuttered. Hopefully new ones will pop up.
I believe there will be a new normal, but hope that it will be a new and improved normal when all is said and done (OK, not holding my breath on that for at least a year or so). I’ve booked an in-country trip, too. I want fun and sun and happy times for a bit, at least.