INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2021-IS IT MORE POIGNANT??

 Firstly Happy International Women's Day to all the women out there. 

Secondly, are we set back due to COVID?

The answer is a resounding yes. Needing to chose between home and work and community to keep going during these times.

Domestic violence is up. Child abuse. And who knows what else will rear its ugly head.

The demands on women have skyrocketed. 

Burnout is huge.

So women out there be kind to each other.

Support each other.

Be there for each other.

Raise strong little boys and girls to care about the world we inhabit.

So tell your stories of the women in your life. Honour them. Love them.

#internationalwomen'sday#womeninourlivesarestrong#lovingthewomeninourlives#beingthereforeachother#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

COVID ONE YEAR LATER- WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!!

 A year ago when the COVID monster was perking its ugly head, no one thought we would still be in such a pickle.

First wave. 

Second wave

Variants.

Lockdowns. Restrictions.

Wear a mask.

Stay home.

No large gatherings. Even some wanted to cancel Christmas.

We were told Christmas was just a day. There will be others. For some maybe, but no one could tell us if all our loved ones would still be around.

So not just another day.

More deaths in Nursing Homes. People recovering at home. But at what cost. How well will they be? Any lasting effects on the body.

The St. Patrick's Day party that did not happen at The London Pub which is now permanently closed. The property is being sold.

The first masks I made and gave some to the grandchildren.

Community signs on streets not only in Richmond Hill but across the country.

Playgrounds closed and taped to reduce the spread of infection and not to have children playing close together.

Rainbow trees in support of the hospital- Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital put together for all to see from the Belviso Family. There for months before they were removed.

I did one in front of my house. Children all over the world were putting rainbows in windows for hope of the end of COVID!!

More masks for my family and me.

Construction continued on Yonge Street.

A beautiful COVID sign thanking so many people.

One of many COVID assessment centers in York Region. Major Mackenzie and Harding.

Capturing the words in a collage.

Tim Hortons has a special cup thanking so many workers for all they have done during COVID.

No dining. Just delivery or curb side pickup.

Local knitters- a group of 16 make a beautiful memorial blanket for those who died and to honour the workers.

A limited Remembrance Day service. I captured these photos a couple of days later.

Two of many churches showing support for others in the community.

A Virtual Winter Carnival.

ZOOM meetings. Virtual learning for students. Singing in the street. Porch visits. Waving from the street. Patio dining. Curb side pickup. Limited, virtual or no funeral services.

Images we will remember.

As we face another year and a new dawn, we live in hope of the vaccine rollout speeding up. We will practice Public Health Protocols until we are out of the woods.

What memories do you have of COVID?

#belvisofamilyandraintbowtrees#rainbowtreesofhope#signsinthecommunity#timhortonsandthankyoucups#covidafteroneyear#Thankingfrontlineworkers#toomanydiedfromcovid#makingmasksforcovid#playgroundclosedforcovid#doingwhatwecantosurviveaftercovid#virtualmeetings#thankyousignseverywhere#covidassessmentceners#porchvisits#zoommeetings#tryingtobepositivethroughouttheyear#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#memorialblanketforcovid#beingthereforothers#yorkregion#richmondhillontariocanada#picturesofcovid

BLACK HISTORY IS MORE THAN JUST A MONTH

I debated writing about Black History on several levels.

It is not my individual history but it is part of Canadian and World History.

So I read and listened to the stories. The people.

But the history is more than a month.

My history is year round so others should have their history year round.

To be aware of everyone's history.

My granddaughter who is in Grade 2 was telling me about what they learned about Black History- Rosa Parks, racism is bad and telling me about her friend who happens to be black.

She told me we are good friends and we are like twins!!

#blackhistorymonth#everyone'shistoryeverymonth#myhistorydoesnotendinamonth#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro 

BOOKS WORK IN COVID TIMES AS BACKDROP FOR ZOOM

 There are many that say so many things are passe!!

Like books.

I have been told who reads books anymore. 

Well actually lots of people. 

Watching so many Zoom meetings and looking at back drops, guess what reappears most of the time?

Yes books.

Some people are even trying to see what books others have on their bookshelves. Curious about people are reading.

I have always loved books. Not just for the stories but their ability to bring life into my life.

So the next time you are at a Zoom meeting check what is in the background! So many times it is books.

#books#readbooks#booksasabackdroptoZommmeetings#lovingreadingbooks#booksonmybookshelf#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SHE GOT HER COVID VACCINE-THEN SHE WEPT

 Okay it's a vaccination.

But watching those over 80 and some 90 getting their vaccines was joyous yesterday.

One senior daughter with her 88 year old mother was crying after her mother got the jab as the Queen would say.

The pair spoke about being absent from grandchildren and great-grandchildren and there was hope that things could change in the future.

Many of the people were as excited as someone winning the lottery.

Well for many life is better than the lottery.

Like the couple in their 90s who stated we got to get back to living!!

#vaccinesbringjoy#elderlygetthejab#vaccinesbringhopeforlife#waitingtogetavaccine#joyingettingthevaccine#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

COVID AND PTSD AND VICARIOUS TRAUMA

 After World War One, many soldiers had shell shock.

World War Two brought many issues of mental distress.

Then we found a word for people who had experienced life threatening issues, abuse, and other traumas.

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

How many of us will experience PTSD from COVID? Lots.

Anxiety, depression are here to stay.

Anxiety often is seen in those who deny how serious it is.

I turn to those on the front lines dealing with the illness and often deaths of patients dying alone. Seeing too many die. Seeing too many suffer. The question of how well does someone really recover from COVID.

Various trauma can occur in many professions- police, firemen or women, nurses, doctors, social workers, health care professionals in general.

An average Long Term Care Home that had too many deaths. The staff there have witnessed so much.

And all the other workers- cleaning staff, food services, office personnel. Well everyone.

One patient's family. Staff caring and hearing and seeing how the family reacted. Then the next family and the next and the next. If there was a relationship with the resident or patient or the person then there is the staff's feelings of loss and grief. 

Are we in it together??

Was there anger? Shame? Blame?

If one does not work in customer service, one does not understand how much flak occurs every day.

Not everyone is nice in dealing with service people. Health care professionals are service people too.

So seeing death. Dealing with tears. And believe me often anger misdirected takes its toll on everyone.

COVID has changed a lot of us and not for the better. Has it been like a war zone? Sort of!

So facing the consequences of the fallout from it need to be conversations we have with each other. Listening and supporting each other. Learning about everyone's experiences. 

For me it is staying away from those who feel it is only about them. For example, if I hear another snowbird lamenting they could not go south or they refused to abide by the rules and went south anyway, good for them. But I do not want to hear it. There are bigger issues.

Everyone has done without many activities and outings and family gatherings. 

We have all suffered together. 

Like my mother's generation who had a Depression Era mentality, will we have a COVID mentality?

Probably!!!

So how are you feeling? I mean really feeling!! Do you see yourself as part of this discussion?

Tell me your thoughts.

#covidandPTSD#covidandvicarioustrauma#COVIDandmentalissues#theimpactonallofus#seeingtoomuchsadness#the impactonmentalhealthprofessionals#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MARCH- IN LIKE A LION- SO TIME TO ROAR

 March 1 brings hope of nice weather. Getting outside more often.

Rebirth.

Of course, some spring cleaning.

For me, connecting outside with others. Since COVID prevails, not a lot has changed.

Looking forward to getting the vaccine. Another month, another step closer.

Coming through the grief process which exhausts one's energy, spring brings some hope for some joy.

Just the longer days makes life brighter. Of course the sun is around longer so it should be brighter.

So are you going to roar with the new month! Or bah like the lamb!

#marchandroarlikealion#newmonthnewideas#newmonthnewhope#whatactivitieswillbringjoy#springcleaning#griefissotiring#let'sgetthevaccine#longerdaysbringbrightnesstothedayandlife#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro