The end of the year is typically a time for giving gifts to those that we care about. It’s a common tradition for those that celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah, and it has become so ingrained in our culture that even those that don’t identify with Christian or Jewish beliefs are in the habit of giving presents to those that they love during this time of year.
2020 has been like nothing that we’ve ever experienced before, though. Families have been separated because of COVID-19 and the ensuing pandemic. Quarantine, social distancing, and stay at home orders have made it so that being together with family and friends is harder than ever before. It makes this holiday season unique and perhaps bitter. Many families are dealing with far more than the temporary separation of COVID, but also the fact that they have lost loved ones to this illness and perhaps the uncertainty that they might not be able to see elderly loved ones that are residing in nursing homes or other care facilities.
This is a tough time for all of us. There’s been a phrase floating around since the pandemic began that always rubbed me the wrong way. It is, “We’re all in the same boat.” This couldn’t be further from reality. A meme that recently popped up in my social media feed helped me to think about the pandemic and its impact differently, thankfully. It said, “We’re not all in the same boat, we’re all in the same storm. Some are in yachts, some are in canoes, some are drowning.” Perhaps this oversimplifies the experiences that we are each having during the ongoing pandemic, but it does help to frame the conversation well. We are all going through the same thing, but we’re experiencing it in different ways.
This is why I believe that family traditions are so important right now. They give a sense of normalcy during this crazy time. They help us to remember what’s important and who is important to us. You might not be able to experience your holidays like you normally would this year, but it is still possible to give gifts to those that you love, even if you can’t be physically with them.
If you’re sending a gift by mail to someone in a residential facility this year, please reach out to the staff there before finalizing your order. They may have policies that you need to be aware of in order to ensure that your loved one gets the gifts that you want them to have in a timely manner. Clerical information should also be checked, especially at larger facilities.
This time of year is tough for a lot of people, but even with COVID restrictions in place, there are things that you can do to make it a little better for the people that you care about. Hopefully, this brief piece helped answer some of your questions and encouraged you to think of other things that can be done to make it a special time for those you care about.
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