Sarah Warsi

It’s almost June and it truly feels like the first half of this year just went by in a total blur. I was sifting through some older photos and came across the one below from a year ago. This was the scene at Jurassic Park in Toronto last year ahead of Game 1 of the NBA finals with the Toronto Raptors against the Golden State Warriors.

To say times have changed a year later is truly an understatement, isn’t it?

Of course, it’s not just about the lack of being able to congregate in large crowds, but the obvious absence of normalcy as we once knew it.

This pandemic has had a two-pronged effect – for one, it has given us a reality check equivalent to knocking someone over the head with a frying pan, and it has also quite substantially reinforced the value of patience and gratitude – something I mentioned in my previous post.

The epiphanies and realizations that I’m sure many have had during these last several months would likely not have materialized any other way.

As much as we have asked ourselves why the events of this year have transpired, we must also reflect on the fact that this pause on life has given many people the opportunity to make those necessary and positive changes in their life that kept lagging before things unravelled.

As the saying goes, everything truly happens for a reason.

We can only come out on the other side renewed, rejuvenated and with a new outlook on life.

Whether you or a loved were directly or indirectly affected by the virus, the mental toll that the entire ordeal has taken on everyone is truly universal.

At this stage in the pandemic, the comic relief from the internet memes has gotten old, at least for me. It brought some level of comfort when everything first started, but now it’s really just about, okay, how we can possibly have a somewhat decent summer? When can I properly see people? When can life resume?

Also, while COVID-19 has been the center of discussion, many people have experienced or are currently going through tragedies and hardships that have no direct relation to the pandemic. We must keep them in our hearts and pray for their peace and comfort.

Look at all of the ongoing racial unrest and tension south of the border? It just seems like we can’t catch a break this year. You would think that a global health crisis would bring people together and foster a greater sense of love and respect for one another – instead we see ongoing brutality and injustices continuing to occur on innocent lives. It’s just appalling and heart-breaking.

One positive event in the midst of this pandemic was the successful launch of the Falcon 9 rocket ship which took off Saturday afternoon from Florida carrying two astronauts. The capsule successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS) today after a 19 hour trip around the planet. It was the first time NASA had deployed its own into space in almost 10 years (at least from US soil), so it was definitely something to acknowledge and celebrate amid everything going on. The team is scheduled to stay at the ISS for up to four months, so the entire mission will be deemed a success upon their safe return. You can view the entire launch here.

It’s hard to say what the remainder of 2020 will hold. As citizens of this planet, what we do have control over is our outlook for the future. Our attitude towards something has more impact than we realize and a sense of optimism and continued hope can go a long way.

Peace and Blessings.