It's a new year, and it has brought new feelings. Feelings of hope and excitement for new things, because....it's a new year! How can you not be excited?
I had some hope that COVID numbers might lower in December, but it's been touch and go for the start of 2022. Apparently restrictions are supposed to lower in a week. This seems really premature...I'm hoping that people stay safe. Denmark's numbers from lowering restrictions aren't great. So we will see.
On the bright side, I have managed to see a lot of friends in the last two weeks (which was an odd coincidence with the news of lowered restrictions). This had given me reason to smile, amidst some of the terrible world news.
Seeing the trucker convoy in Ottawa (and Toronto), it has disheartening to see Canadians saying things, and acting in a way that is misinformed at best. The beach pool party didn't bother me. The idea that misinformation had spread so far while people were so isolated was really distressing.
Last week, Russia initiated war with Ukraine. One of the highlights of this week has been people saying that they stand with the Ukrainians, even in small gestures. Tiktok, Instagram, etc. are full of pedestrian-side accounts of war, of bombings of civilian districts, and people fleeing for their lives. This is a very nice prayer that was shared on Facebook, so I'll share it here as well.
- That COVID might become less severe
- For making good memories this year, with friends and family
- For finding time for artistic and creative pursuits
- For peace in our time, real peace, where bridges are built, not destroyed
