From Tragedy to Gratitude

It’s a challenge finding positive stories in the midst of a heartbreaking worldwide crisis. Families everywhere are confronting the worst possible news, wondering how their happiness could be totally upended in a matter of two weeks. Or, in many cases, less.

It’s true that mind-numbing tragedy often brings out the worst in a society. Senseless hoarding by a few at the expense of many who go without. Shocking displays of greed and selfishness. And, sadly, too many insensitive comments, often instigated by ignorance.

Yet, through a cascade of gloomy headlines, glimmers of light have begun to shine through, with a touch of familiarity to restore hope.

From around the globe come tales of communities pausing to acknowledge and applaud the sacrifices made by small groups of dedicated health care professionals.

Doctors, nurses, first responders, and others who truly put themselves on the front lines while risking their lives, are finally being recognized.

On the balconies of high rises in Vancouver, British Columbia, people gather at 7 o’clock each night and applaud, all to show support for hospital teams.

People in Atlanta, Georgia have done the same. So have tens of thousands of people in France, Italy, Denmark, and India.

The royal family — including Prince Charles, who himself had been diagnosed with COVID-19 —  joined citizens throughout the U.K. applauding health care workers.

A hashtag, #ClapForDoctors, found traction in countries all over the world.

Then it dawned on me why this sounds familiar.

The outpouring of support is similar to the long-overdue recognition that men and women in the military received following the catastrophe of 9-11.

After years of being ignored or taken for granted, the people responsible for our national defense were at last shown the respect and gratitude they deserved.

It’s happening now with health care professionals who not only are working ridiculously long hours, but are risking their own lives in service to total strangers. It warms my heart to see so many people standing up and applauding these heroes.

And, just as 9-11 led to a surge in young people joining the military to serve, I can easily envision a new generation eager to embrace a career in health sciences and research.

But the gratitude isn’t limited to just nurses and doctors. Over the past week I’ve watched people acknowledge the patience and hard work put in by others on the battle lines of this pandemic:

Grocery store employees. Department store workers. Delivery people. Pharmacists. Postal employees. Jobs that require up close and personal contact with a populace that’s afraid and not always gracious.

As a nation we’re perhaps finally pulling back from a me-centric way of thinking.

And isn’t it interesting that the people who notably represent the look-at-me way of living — athletes, pop stars, reality-TV faces, and other so-called celebrities — have never seemed so trivial, so unimportant, so unnecessary as they do today, compared to the realities of daily living we now face.

Are we, at last, learning gratitude on a larger scale? Have we been forced by a random twist of biological processes to set aside the frivolous and to focus on what matters most? To focus on the people who matter the most?

I hope so. In a time when the news is depressing, it’s comforting to know that, while we may have lost our feeling of invulnerability, we haven’t lost the ability to give thanks where due.

In fact, I’m convinced that this year’s Thanksgiving celebration in November will be the most heartfelt holiday in history.

We will have finally realized, on a grand scale, what and who we are most thankful for.

Doctor image courtesy of Jonathan Borba  on  Unsplash
Lab tech image courtesy of Ani Kolleshi  on  Unsplash
Thankful image courtesy of  Pro Church Media  on  Unsplash