Month: August 2021

Positive Vibes & Other Punishable Crimes

Normal is a weird, extremely subjective thing. Certain ideas or activities I believe are perfectly ‘normal’ could be completely bizarre to other people and vice versa.

But here’s the thing, how would you ever know? If a belief or thought was passed down for generations, and it had never come into question, how would you know? 🤔

Unless someone with a different perspective mentioned it or asked about it, you wouldn’t. Now, before you guys try to launch an investigation to uncover bodies buried in my family’s backyard or some other such atrocity, please save your energy. I promise, we’re really not that intriguing. 😂

But give me a minute to explain this ‘normal’ I was raised with that I’m still struggling to overcome. Maybe you can even relate. ☺️

Like a lot of people, I was taught a lot of well-intentioned childhood lessons that somehow got misconstrued or just totally went awry. For instance, I struggle with making eye contact, being assertive, and really just taking up any space, 😬 because I was taught so many things were impolite. I never participated in any sort of athletics and couldn’t wear certain things because it wasn’t “ladylike.” 🙄

But what I’m currently having an issue with is something I hadn’t even noticed until recently.

I’m a fairly upbeat, positive person. I make my share of sarcastic or cynical comments, but that’s one of my coping mechanisms to deflect when things are getting too serious and uncomfortable. 🙃 {Think of it like a love language. 😘} But mostly, I try to see the sunshine through the clouds and look for rainbows after the storms. 🌈

I’m the first one to encourage other people and tell them how amazing they are or how awesome they’re going to do. But I also use a lot of negative self talk. Which is a really big issue. Because while I have incredibly supportive friends and family, 🙌🏻 that inner voice is the one that’s loudest. 😕

It’s really become noticeable when I prepare to take an exam. It seems like everyone can make the declaration that they are going to do well on the exam… everyone, but me. 🙈

It doesn’t make any difference how much I’ve studied, how prepared I feel, or how well I’ve done on other assignments or exams. Under no circumstances can I utter those words. 👀

Why? Because I was taught, from a very young age, that in making such statements, not only was I making other people feel bad or inadequate, but I was also being boastful. 🧐 I was to always be modest about my skills, knowledge, and abilities. No one ever differentiated between boasting and self affirmation. But they were very clear that boasting or bragging would be swiftly punished. And let me tell you, that was horrifying. 😰

It’s a good thing I’m an adult now and not the least bit superstitious or irrational. I’m now well aware that nothing will happen from speaking these things. 😆

But also,

and hear me out… 👀

Like, what if it does? 🤯

What if insinuating that I might be prepared for and actually do well on a test I’m about to take angers the entire universe and irreversibly sets in motion a course of events that none of us has ever experienced or prepared to face? 😱

How does one recover from that? I’ve gotta level with you. 2020 and 2021 have been just awful. 😳 What if it’s even worse than that? 🥴 Could you imagine? 😱

For all of our continued wellbeing and safety, I think I’ll just stay the course. But thanks for listening. 👍🏻

Faith Over Fear

Image credit: @johnpavlovitz

I’ve addressed some concerns about vaccines. I’ve discussed the origins of some well-known conspiracy theories. But I want to talk about something else that’s been bothering me lately.

I know everyone has different reasons for taking various precautions or not, wearing a mask or not, getting the vaccine or not, taking this #pandemic seriously or not. That’s your right and your privilege. Your reasons are your own. I’m not here to debate that with you. It’s not the topic of this post.

Today, I want to talk about #FaithOverFear and how using that ideology as a justification for NOT taking appropriate measures against a VERY REAL, VERY DEADLY #virus is one of the most egocentric and counterintuitive arguments.

Not only does it effectively absolve a person of any responsibility to protect themselves or others, it also completely disregards the hundreds of thousands of individuals who have DIED or are currently fighting FOR THEIR LIVES, who may ALSO have or have had unshakable faith. It’s like saying your faith is greater or somehow more worthy than theirs. Which is incredibly audacious and contemptuous.

You can have faith in God and still care about others. If I’m not mistaken, that’s a pretty big deal to him. I remember something about loving your neighbor. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Is that still a thing, or nah?

I know everything happens for a reason. But I also believe that sometimes that reason is because people are selfish and have no regard for human life. Do your part. It’s not hard.

I said what I said.

The Secondary Pandemic

I’m sure a lot of people are sick of my posts lately. Because they’re not my usual lighthearted, sarcastic, and comical posts. And I’m very sorry. I’ve been on my soapbox a lot lately. Because I’m tired. So very tired. Tired of conspiracy theories, half-truths, and blatant lies. People 👏🏻 are 👏🏻 dying 👏🏻 at 👏🏻 an 👏🏻 alarming 👏🏻 rate! 👏🏻

But some people care more about disproving reports from scientists and medical professionals and trying to convince themselves and others that the reality we are seeing and experiencing simply DOES NOT EXIST. It is heartbreaking. It is disgusting. And it is physically, mentally, and emotionally EXHAUSTING.

So, I started wondering, what happened to us? How did we get here? In the age of technology, with a world of information at our fingertips, why are we drowning in a sea of misinformation— and disinformation?

It actually started very small. Did you know that just 12 people (known as The ‘Disinformation Dozen‘) are responsible for authoring approximately 65% of the misleading claims, debunked myths, and outright lies about vaccines and other popular conspiracy theories that proliferate on social media? 🤯

But why? Who are these people? And what are their motives? 🤔 They are self proclaimed activists, pseudoscience entrepreneurs, osteopathic & homeopathic specialists, chiropractors, and one is even an OB/GYN. Motives: $$$ – They pedal a variety of books, videos, courses, dietary supplements, and other merchandise that just doesn’t sell as well when we don’t buy into their claims.

Their main complaint when their content is flagged or an account is removed for violating guidelines? I’ll give you a hint. It’s not that they’re worried about public welfare. It’s that the loss of their ‘donate’ or ‘buy now’ buttons is costing them hundreds of thousands of dollars. 😒

These individuals are very clever. Their information usually begins with a fragment of truth. One of their favorite sources may surprise you. It’s VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System), run by the United States Health and Human Services. This factual database tracks ALL adverse events related to vaccines. The literal purpose of the database is public transparency. To help consumers make informed decisions.

Contrary to popular belief, no one is trying to hide vaccine side effects, injuries or adverse reactions. They are all public record, available for anyone to view.

So, this real and accurate information is one source, per se’… But much like playing telephone, what was originally published scarcely resembles what gets posted and shared, and the longer it circulates, the less truth there is.

This is where the controversial social media campaigns began. They started to fact-check, remove content, add disclaimers to posts, and even temporarily or permanently ban accounts in an effort to combat a secondary pandemic: misinformation.

Now, you might be thinking it’s wrong to censor people just because they disagree with you. What about the first amendment? I hear you. Really, I do. So please hear me. This is NOT about a difference of opinion. Let me explain.

I don’t like coffee. {Sorry} Lot’s of people think coffee is amazing. That’s their OPINION. Do you see how neither of us agreeing or disagreeing about that is in any way harmful to anyone? {save for the stock prices at Starbucks} I am also a cat person. Some people prefer the company of dogs, birds, fish, rabbits, gerbils, Guinea pigs, sugar gliders, lizards, snakes, questionably obtained exotic pets, or an assortment of other creatures. Pet, feed, cuddle, and spoil whatever makes you happy. {I respectfully request that you do not introduce it to me if it has a forked tongue, 🦎 more than 4 legs 🕷 or less than 2. 🐍 😬} I also don’t care whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent, or voted for Kanye. 🤷🏻‍♀️

See? But the more I read, the more I get the feeling that a lot of people were either out sick or just not paying attention the day they covered facts vs. opinions. So, here’s a little refresher. By definition, an opinion is 1.) a belief or judgment that rests on grounds INSUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE CERTAINTY. 2.) a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.

An opinion CANNOT be right or wrong. Because it’s subjective, based entirely on personal preferences, beliefs, and feelings. If you heard someone tell a kid he was wrong because he said his favorite color was green. You’d be like, “How’s he wrong? That’s his opinion. Take a lap, Jim Bob.” Because that’s not how opinions work.

So, I hope you understand when I tell you I do not care if we share the same opinions. It’s great to have things in common with other people. But I don’t expect or want to live in a boring echo chamber, where everyone thinks exactly like me on every matter. That sounds dreadful. How would we ever learn or grow if we were all surrounded by people who just blindly agreed about everything and there were no alternative perspectives to consider?

I welcome civil conversation, open dialogue, differing thoughts, opinions, and beliefs. We can have professional relationships, and close friendships, despite and often because of diverse opinions. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. That’s our right. It’s one of the best things about the human experience.

But we also need to realize that none of us exists in a vacuum. One person’s rights END where another’s BEGIN. Thus, what I do NOT feel we are entitled to do is share OPINIONS that can endanger other people because they’ve been MISREPRESENTED as facts.

Moreover, the First Amendment is designed to further the pursuit of TRUTH, not to protect those who willfully and egregiously engage in slander or libel, especially those who display actual malice by knowingly publishing false information or publishing information with reckless disregard for the truth.

So, when doing research to decide if the vaccine or ANYTHING ELSE is the right choice for you, please consider the source of the information you reference, as well as its credibility and motivations. And look at facts, rather than opinions. 💗

To V or Not To V?

Alas, poor Yorick. No plague for you.

This is going to be an uncomfortable post. But I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching and I want to talk about two of the most common {and what I feel are truly legitimate} concerns that keep surfacing when people discuss their fears and concerns surrounding the COVID vaccine.

A lot of people are not traditional antivaxxers. They have had all of their immunizations, immunize(d) their children, and even get annual flu shots. They have never had any doubts about the necessity or safety of any vaccine — until now. But why? What makes the COVID vaccine any different?

One of the most prominent concerns is that there’s not enough research. I truly mean no disrespect, so I hope no one takes offense. But I must ask, how much research would be satisfactory?

A common misconception is that, in the shadows, some government figures surreptitiously and hastily threw something together and called it a vaccine. Which honestly sounds just horrifying. I wholeheartedly agree. Who would willing volunteer to get in line for that mess?

Fortunately, that’s not how this works… that’s not how any of this works.

Now, you might be wondering, if it wasn’t just thrown together, how was a vaccine for a brand new virus manufactured so quickly? It’s a valid question.

The answer isn’t the huge secret conspiracy that some have suggested.

For one thing, while SARS-CoV-2 {the virus that causes Covid-19} may be new, Coronaviruses, as a whole, are not.

Virologists and immunologists have learned a tremendous amount from more than twenty years of research on earlier coronaviruses, like the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus and the virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), as well as the seasonal coronaviruses. They know considerably more about their transmission and their vulnerabilities, crucial information that is key to a successful vaccine.

Moreover, think about technology. Not just medical technology, but technology, in general. From manufacturing electronics, cars, and airplanes, to constructing homes, skyscrapers, and bridges, things that once took years or even decades can now be completed in a matter of months, weeks, or days. Because the foundational knowledge that has been gained and the processes that have been developed, over time, have made things much more efficient.

Thanks to trial and error, the blood, sweat, and tears of those who worked so tirelessly before us, and advancements in science and technology, we haven’t had to start from scratch with a lot of things in a very long time.

This is what happened with the Covid-19 vaccines. They did not just appear from nowhere. They weren’t the products of a few guys in a grimy basement somewhere, throwing ingredients together, hoping no one would notice that they had no idea what they were doing.

Decades of research by tens of thousands of well-educated, highly respected scientists from all over the world is what put in place the essential knowledge and methods responsible for the rapid development of these lifesaving vaccines.

Still, research is just one concern. The other issue many are grappling with is the lack of FDA approval.

I feel compelled to take a moment to mention that I find it interesting that none of us has really seemed all that bothered about vitamins, herbals, and dietary supplements, or the variety of mixes, powders, potions, pills, and oils, etc. that our friends, family members, and/or celebs are trying to pedal to us that are ALSO not approved or even regulated by the FDA, which also may have unknown long term effects. But that’s just my opinion, so I’ll try to keep my whataboutisms to a minimum.

Back to the facts…

If the main thing that makes you pause about getting the vaccine for yourself or supporting that decision from people you care about is its lack of FDA approval, there’s good news on the way.

Pfizer and Moderna are working on their status.

According to the FDA, for a drug to be approved it needs to have at least 6 months of data proving that the benefits outweigh the known and potential risks. 6 months worth of data obviously wasn’t available until recently.

Pfizer and Moderna both received their emergency use authorization in December 2020.

Pfizer moved quickly, submitting its application for full approval on May 7. Which they talk about in this press release.

Moderna wasn’t as quick, but submitted theirs on June 1st. Which you can read about in their own press release.

J&J, on the other hand, got the green light in late February, but has yet to file for full approval, although they reportedly have pLaNs to do so “lAtEr” in 2021, whatever that means. 🤨

There was originally discussion about expediting full approval. But after things were so heavily politicized, they had concerns that moving too quickly would erode more trust in vaccines just when we need them most. 

Still, it takes so long to grant full approval that a lot of people seem to be under the impression that the FDA has reservations about doing so at all. A lot of the unvaccinated individuals I’ve spoken with have cited concerns about the length of time it’s taking. They feel like there must be problems no one wants to tell us about.

Although there are cases of vaccine injuries and adverse reactions, they are published for all the world to see. The real problem is we just aren’t used to watching and waiting {like watching paint dry} as they go through their entire approval process. It’s usually happening in the background. Under normal circumstances, most of us may not even hear about a drug or vaccine until it’s been fully approved. So we aren’t familiar with things.

But it is a lengthy ordeal. Like I mentioned earlier, manufacturers can’t submit their application until they have at least 6 months of data. Once they satisfy that threshold, they can complete and submit their application. Then it can take another six months to a year for the FDA to scrutinize all the required supporting documentation, before they can reach a decision. That review process includes comprehensive reviews of clinical trial data and expert reports; inspection of equipment and manufacturing facilities; and multiple meetings with company executives.

This long and arduous process is why they opted for the emergency use authorization in the interim. They are currently deep in the process, so hopefully full approval will happen soon to put more people at ease.

Whether or not you choose to get the vaccine, I respect your decision. I hope this information can help provide some perspective and ease some of the concerns so many of us are having. Please stay safe and take care yourselves. 💗