On the eve of Christmas

AS we count down the hours to another Christmas day, many of us can be thankful that we have come through a torrid period in our history. There can be no doubts about the impact of COVID-19 on our lives, especially the second wave which began in April this year.

Life has never been the same.

The pandemic tore at the very heart of who we were then, changing how we now live our lives.

Wearing masks has become the norm. People once rushed to stores to get themselves hand sanitisers, masks, and every other safety gear.

As the number of positive cases rose, followed by the number of deaths around the country, there was fear and uncertainty.

In the face of all that, our economy took a battering. Thousands of Fijians lost their jobs. Thousands more were forced to work reduced hours and take massive pay cuts.

Families struggled to put food on their table. Many families still don’t know where their next meal is coming from today.

Then our international border reopened and tourism was revived to some extent.

There was joy and celebration when the first flight from Sydney arrived at the Nadi International Airport early this month. Hotels and resorts were up and running again. The industry was active!

Then we learnt about the new omicron variant! Now we appear to be in a better position to understand how to deal with the virus.

We know what must be done. We know why we must wear masks properly and why we must adhere to physical distancing rules.

We know why it is important to be alert when out in public places and why we must wash our hands often with soap and water.

Our challenge, though, is maintaining the status quo.

Celebrate with passion but do so with vigilance, knowing the virus is still around!

As we head into the long weekend, there will be a lot of traffic movement.

Let’s be vigilant on the road.

Let’s adhere to road rules and keep within the speed limits.

Accidents happen because we allow them to. Let’s not drink and drive and let’s plan our journey well.

This Christmas may not be the same as others for many reasons.

But Christmas is just around the corner.

It may not be a festive occasion for everyone but it is encouraging to note the spirit of the season in action.

That spirit of giving and appreciating the plight of a fellow Fijian.

Understanding and sharing what we can despite the challenges we each face.

That is motivating! Stay well and stay safe!