Louisville Medicine Volume 68, Issue 8 | Page 23

REFLECTIONS : WORKING TOWARDS A HAPPY NEW YEAR , 2021 ! AUTHOR Teresita Bacani-Oropilla , MD
REFLECTIONS

REFLECTIONS : WORKING TOWARDS A HAPPY NEW YEAR , 2021 ! AUTHOR Teresita Bacani-Oropilla , MD

Remember the days when families

prepared for the new year ? They made it a point to be together . In some countries , 12 round fruits decorated the table for ‘ round the year days of plenty . For the religious , a midnight prayer service served to thank their Lord for surviving the past year and pleading for happiness in the year to come .
Remember when to be at New York at the dropping of “ The Ball ” was a great feat , and ‘ round the world big news ? Festive people gathered for hours , in bright headgear , possibly fueled by pocket drinks that warmed their beings and their spirits ? Those less fortunate and unable to go had their own local gatherings , watched football and anticipated new year hugs and kisses . While the world turned , fireworks in big cities popped up on TV as midnight tolled bells in their places ! Next day , the fantastic flower-decorated floats paraded in Pasadena .
That was New Year ’ s !
The world has sobered since . What once was fun , is no longer . Like a pall that covered the earth , a vicious , tiny , crowned virus has brought this earth ’ s inhabitants to its knees . It has bewildered the world ’ s proud glitterati - scientific , political , and humanistic - forcing them to work together , or else perish !
Likewise , in the pandemonium that it has caused , the loss of loved ones , of means of supporting themselves and their families , and the norms they have established as a way of life , an examination of conscience has occurred . What really is important in life ? What is the bottom line ?
Although all of these thoughts seem bleak , a race of humans named homo sapiens , wise , philosophic and endowed with willpower , have been through similar adversities in their past . They figured out how to get out of their predicaments and survived .
Be of good heart then , and rejoice . We will do it again .
Happiness is a state of peace and contentment when we have reached our goals . Do we know what they are ? If not , we are on our way of finding out .
Great searching ! Dr . Bacani-Oropilla is a retired pediatrician and child psychiatrist .
JANUARY 2021 21