Why We Need To Keep Thanking Our Frontline Workers

This isn’t over yet. I hate to be the black spot of reminding people, but COVID-19 isn’t over yet.

Right now, all we can control is the way we act and the way we act towards others, including our nurses, respiratory therapists, doctors, anesthesiologists, CNA’s, infusion nurses, front desk staff, and everyone in between.

The world hasn't stopped moving

Some things haven’t stopped for many people. People can work from home, and you’re still going to need to go in for Botox if you feel comfortable, though you may have had to wait.

We still need our migraine medicine

You’re still getting your meds on time. Despite one drug that still has not been proven effective, we all still need our medicine. (I’d like to shout out to my pharmacy the allows me to call and let them know I’m outside so I don’t have any additional contact with anyone I don’t need to.) I know there are plenty of pharmacies that are making out scripts too. Don’t be afraid to ask if you can have this done for you as well. Advocate for yourself.

We still need to get labs done

You still need labs done. For my convenience, I asked the lab if I could get all three sets of labs done on the same day from 3 sets of doctors and thankfully, they were able to be done that way.

Essential workers haven't stopped

Life is still going on. But for our essential workers, life has never stopped. For them, it’s probably still a little bit slow motion and a lot of fast forward, trying not to miss a beat.

Essential workers at stores and restaurants

There are workers from Instacart, strolling the aisles to make sure I’ve gotten my feminine care products. There are essential workers at nearly every drive-through and families still working mom & pop restaurants to make sure take-out is ready if they aren’t ready to re-open yet.

Delivery drivers are essential workers

It’s never been over for delivery drivers, who often feel very uncomfortable but this may be the only job stability they have right now. I know for sure we don’t thank them enough.

Other essential workers

There are Veterinarians, techs, interns, and students learning the ways of the animal world. They haven’t stopped at all. Please don’t complain about not getting in on the day you “should have” for nail appointments at grooming salons. Everyone has to be on the top of their game yet.

The short breaks that essential workers get

It stops for a short time at the front door when our nurses and doctors tell their kids to let them wash up first before giving them hugs and kisses. For a few hours of every day, frontline workers get only a few hours or respite, and maybe a little sleep, only to start back up again tomorrow, donning the same masks, same rugged attitude, and right now, same odds.

It's a stressful time for everyone

I know all of our time is valuable right now - we have found ourselves losing patience more easily, becoming more depressed (as stats of suicide calls rise every day), and to be honest, we're getting sick of the same people we've been quarantining with (if you're still doing so like myself).

Have patience and be kind

Time is valuable but life is, too. Please don't forget to thank the ones around you. A little kindness goes a long way right now in the middle of crises like this. Kindness never hurts anyone.

Keep this in mind when your appointment is canceled - there may be a sick patient that cannot wait, their immune system simply cannot wait or they are in the most pain they have ever been in and it's a true emergency. I know it's hard to put ourselves in other's shoes that we have no idea about how their occupations work, what their day looks like, and what they go home to every night.

We need to keep thanking the essential workers

But one thing is constant. The care teams, the essential workers - they all come back. Despite the fear, despite the danger; they come back. Day after day.

Thank you - from the bottom of our hearts.