As we go into the 11th full official month of our new reality and bring 2020 to its conclusion, it is important to enter the 2021 new year with positive momentum driving hope into society but more importantly to the individual, our local communities. 

If there is one key take-away from this year that the pandemic has shown to us all is that regardless of age, gender, social class, and/or geographic location around the world we are all in this together. 

It is never easy to learn and grow during difficult times. When differences and personal opinion are set aside, positive results and common ground can and will result in finding new ways of reinventing ourselves not only individually but as a society that can and will continue to thrive in ways that were never thought possible.  A little imagination and community will change lives.

Moderna’s Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH, made an announcement via Twitter early Monday morning regarding results from the latest development of a vaccine that has had remarkable results. Moderna along with another pharmaceutical company Pfizer/ BioNTech collaborated saying their vaccines worked to about the same degree 94.1- 95% efficacy rate against the disease. Both Vaccines used similar developmental processes: A messenger RNA (mRNA) to code for a protein called spike that studs the surface of the pathogen.

This has been tested on more than 70,000 people between the two companies that say their vaccines worked to about the same degree in all different groups, ethnicities, ages, and genders. The hope of Moderna and Pfizer is to provide 70 million doses by the end of the year, granting the United States an upward of 45 million doses as well as fulfill the needs of other countries around the world that made advanced purchase agreements. The next steps in this monumental breakthrough are expected to be authorized and concluded as soon as December 21st.

While so many have chosen to focus their time and efforts on what Covid-19 has hindered in modern-day environments, it is even more important to remind ourselves of the positives and progress that have happened as a result.

In 2021, we enter with HOPE and EXCITEMENT for the pending vaccine.  Health and safety is the main driver in everyone’s life from wearing masks, hand washing, environmental sanitization, social distancing as well as awareness of those who are “high risk” being exposed.

We enter with COURAGE and OPTIMISM for new ways of conducting business and personal networking. Saving time and money streamlining communication, allowing mobility for those to work remotely improving work/life balance, and giving an opportunity to those who show innovative ideas. 

We enter with COMPASSION and EMPATHY. Understanding not everyone lives with the same circumstances, embracing that we need to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves, We are only as strong as our weakest link, Leave no man (or woman) behind. 

Lastly, we enter the new year LEAVING negativity and skepticism behind. There is no doubt that hardship has overcome us all within the year, but we must also have faith that greater times are ahead.

Change is not easy, but it is necessary. Growth is not painless, but it is inevitable. With fear comes vindication. With sadness comes appreciation and with moving forward comes wisdom from learning from the past.  Happy upcoming New Year, 2021!