A while ago, when I heard that health restrictions would soon be lifted, I became a bit worried and said to myself, “You’re going to need to make choices that others won’t understand.”
When you have blood cancer, seeing health measures lifted is hardly reassuring; instead, you feel vulnerable and insecure.
This can lead to a period of uncertainty, questioning, frustration and fear. Are you able to identify the emotions you’re feeling? How can you take care of yourself emotionally in this situation?
I invite you to think about what scares you and talk to the people in your life—family, friends, those around you, and even coworkers. Taking the time to talk about what is bothering us has a positive impact on our environment. We’re not isolated by the situation that scares us, and those around us know what’s going on and what we’re dealing with. Speaking up is a powerful tool.
Despite the health measures being lifted, I know that I’m going to keep wearing a mask and washing my hands as I have been. I’ll continue to keep a distance from certain people. I’ll keep doing the best I can to protect myself because that’s the only thing I can control.
Over the past two years, we’ve all developed tools for protecting ourselves against COVID-19. Now, it’s a matter of managing this new situation as best we can. Don’t sit back and wait for others to do it for you.
We’ll need to learn to deal with interactions in which we’re misunderstood when it comes to our requests and our need to protect our fragile health. Sometimes this will be easy and other times it might be hard. For you, what will be the most difficult part of the health measures being lifted? Masks no longer being mandatory and changes to rules at restaurants, grocery stores, shopping centres, pharmacies, schools, gyms, and even with family/friend gatherings? What else?
To make things easier for yourself, write a short list of questions for when you need to make a choice or need reassurance. This is an effective tool for escaping our imaginary fears and recognizing our real fears.
Will you choose to keep wearing a mask after all the health measures are lifted? It’s a personal choice; there may be some dirty looks, comments, or nothing at all.
I hope you’ll do what makes you comfortable, hold your head high, and respect your personal needs.