By PARE BOB PAGLIARI, C.Ss.R., Ph.D.
Mario Quinsata, 68: “I was never allowed to enter the building to visit my mother and father, who live on the second floor of a nursing home in a neighboring state. They are 92 and 95 years old, respectively. Weather permitting, they could go out on their little balcony and we would yell at each other up and down sentences about how things were going, even if they weren’t going so well. Their voices will be seen soon and we will say goodbye until next week. Then I would leave them a bag of candy at the front desk and walk away fighting tears. Month after month he feared the idea of getting sick and dying with no chance of making one last hug and kiss. I hated how this virus robbed us of the years of contact we had in decline.
Onamay Nugent, 33: “The children were soldiers in the beginning. They cooperated with the remote classroom schedule, put on masks, washed their hands often, and tried to maintain adequate social distances as much as 11- and 15-year-olds can. But as the restrictions lengthened, I was able to see that they were increasingly turning their work into permanent vacations. And even that was getting old pretty fast. Text messages, FaceTime, tweets, and blogs kept kids busy for a while, but as the weeks turned into months, they missed being with their friends and all the team sports and school activities closed. or out of bounds. When my husband was fired from his job, I had all three under my feet. It was then that the light at the end of the tunnel began to look less like a beacon of hope and rather like the beacon of the train that comes to tear down our home and our lives. Sometimes he would jump in the car and go for a “walk shout” as he called it, just to stop smoking. I was sure that if this mistake kept us isolated much longer, I would lose control and gain the virus. But I felt powerless to stop it. ”
Undoubtedly, we can all agree that 2021 was a very difficult year. Difficult situations are part of life. The arrival of a pandemic was a huge challenge and it still is. But now we are in a new year. So the question is: will it be a happier year? The answer is yes, if we decide it will be. How can we do that? We can do this by redirecting our thoughts, words, and deeds away from negativity and toward positivity.
A positive thought. Start the morning with a prayer that combines the virtues of faith, hope, and love. This sentence may be brief, but it must be sincere. For example, pray, “God, I believe in you, I put all my hope in you, I love you.” Let the graces associated with these positive thoughts of praise permeate your mind and soul. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and think to yourself, “Faith, hope, love.” You can also expand on these thoughts in a proactive prediction: “Something positive will happen today.” Then open your eyes, watch, and wait for that higher positive thinking, which combines belief, expectation, and goodness, to come true for you, for someone you love, or for both of you.
Two positive words. The two key words, of course, are “thank you.” These can be verbal utterances, but will work just as well when typing, chatting, texting, or emailing, and so on. Think of two people who are especially “positive” and nice to be there. Write a thank you note to each one, beginning with their name and adding the following expression of gratitude: “N., thank you for being so optimistic.” Repeat the same gratitude for the second person you have in mind for meeting the positive verbal requirements of the day.
Three positive facts. This is the same behavior that is repeated three times for three different people you know. The first person is you! Start the day by smiling at the person in the bathroom mirror. Sure this sounds ridiculous, but it works. Then hold that same smile in your hand and point it at the first acquaintance you know. If that person is under your roof, no problem. If you’re away from home, that second smile will be hidden by your mask until you see someone you recognize. Grab them and say their name while you are at least six feet away. Quickly move away from the mask, smile for two seconds showing a toothpick, and then replace the face mask followed by five positive gestures and quick blinks. The other person can stop and drop their head from side to side. However, they will receive the message. And even though you won’t see it, they’ll smile behind the mask too. Do this same action for another person to get a total of three positive actions a day.
Sacred duties. We repeat steps one, two, and three listed above as often as possible during 2021. If we do, we will discover that these practices will turn our happy new year wishes into a happier reality for all.
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