On the social media accounts of The Mary Foundation, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark released a video speech about the loneliness caused by the pandemic. The Mary Foundation’s work focuses on three areas: Bullying and Well-being, Domestic Violence and Loneliness.
The video includes the following, among others: "At Mary Fonden, we look with dismay at what the pandemic could mean for loneliness among Danes. I think that many have seriously felt the feeling of loneliness this year - perhaps for the first time. Others may have become even more isolated from society than before.
We all have a responsibility to fight loneliness. Even a small thing can make a big difference to another person. And often it doesn't take much to feel seen and loved. You feel like you mean something to someone. We all need this. Paying attention to who you think might need it can go a long way. In this way, we can all do our part to fight loneliness without allowing more people to reach out."
H.R.H. The Crown Princess
She speaks so beautifully. Denmark is so lucky to have her. She sets such a great example for her children. I love the colour of her blouse it looks great on her.
ReplyDeleteWell said. She is a great role model. Love the top, she looks beautiful.
DeleteChel
Gail, I totally agree with you. And I am waiting for the day, that she don't have to curtsy, anymore, to queens, kings and that princes, etc, must curtsy before her. No disrespect meant against queen Margrethe. And I admire her, that she had to learn to speak, write, well, to communicate, in Danish. It must have been a huge challenge!
DeleteI like the magenta color of her dress or top. CP Mary seems a lovely person.
ReplyDeleteThe colour is a little sombre but still in line with the colours of this festive season.
DeleteThe subject she talks about is important during this season.
You can be very lonely in a crowd. In the inner parts of some big cities like Paris, 50% of occupants of apartments live alone.
Just a smile or a nod of the head can have a big meaning to a lonely person.
Happy holiday season to all.
I donot understand danish, but I think it is a lovely message she gave.
ReplyDeleteThe blouse is good although it is a pity she wasn’t awar of the res amaryllis behind her.
By the way:
Is there still a monarchy in the Netherlands?
We haven’t seen any of them for some time nor a Christmas message.
The Netherlands are in lockdown, so they are not supposed to appear anywhere in person. There have been some Zoom appearances, I believe.
DeleteOf course we still have a monarchy in the Netherlands.
DeleteThe King always shares a Christmas video at Boxing day.
Merry Christmas!
Loneliness is a huge problem. And let´s be clear - it´s not a result of the pandemic but a result of political measures. They have preached social distancing all year, they have literally excluded people from public life, they have ordered quarantine for millions and isolated people even from their immediate family. They discouraged everything in the way of social interaction (gatherings of any sort, culture, festivities, sports, even family get-togethers). No wonder we´re now dealing with massive mental health problems, especially in those (elderly, high-risk people) that we allegedly have tried to "protect".
ReplyDeleteForget the video messages and skype chats etc. Unless you´re sick, go see your grandparents in person and give them a bear hug! It will do more good for their health than isolation and sanitizing ever will. Most elderly live for those rare moments with their children and grandchildren.
OMG are you crazy?? Go ahead and give your grandparents a bear hug if you and they are okay with the fact that they might die as a result.
DeleteIt's difficult for everyone for sure but sacrifices have to be made if we want to keep the elderly and other risk groups alive. The mental health effects are very regrettable and must be spoken about & dealt with but they were sadly caused by the illness & pandemic, not the measures that attempt to deal with it.
Dr. Mark Riggs, a professor at Abilene Christian University in Texas had made all the right choices these past few months...teaching while social distancing, wearing a mask, not going to stores or large gatherings. He and his wife even made the decision to not attend their church during this pandemic. The night after he hung Christmas lights with his grandsons he showed signs of coronavirus. He was hospitalized soon after and died. Do we know 100% that he got it from his grandsons? He had been so careful for so long. If you and any extended family take the chance to see each other during this holiday season, it could be the last holiday you spend with them.
DeleteRenay
@Vanessa 7:18pm - Yesyesyesyes!!! Vanessa, you are totally correct. I'm a grandma & am hugging all my children & grandchildren, some of our ridiculous restrictions have been temporarily lifted. Arresting people for not social-distancing on an outdoors ice rink has happened here. Thank you for some common sense. No flu this year? It has morphed into Covid, everything is "Covid". You do not mask or quarantine healthy people.
DeleteThat said, I believe Mary does indeed understand loneliness.
~Laurel~
Renay, you are totally right. We have heard so many families who are now coming forward in their grief to say that a family member died because of exposure at a family get-together. My husband has been in healthcare for more than thirty years and the virologists he knows and has heard from warn people that this virus is one of the most contagious viruses they have ever seen.
DeleteMichelle
To anonymous 9:34
DeleteNo, I´m not crazy, I´m serious about this. Mental health problems aren´t a small "sacrifice" - they are extremely difficult to deal with, let alone to cure, and they have direct repercussions on one´s physical health.
Mental health problems are skyrocketing right now, and that´s not because of illness but because of pandemic response measures, or more precisely because of efforts to prevent the spreading of the virus. Loneliness is worst in those who are isolated to be protected, because a) they have been given the feeling that for them it´s either isolation or death, and b) because they have no idea how this will be going on for. So death fear + isolation + no end in sight. This situation is crippling people´s mental health. And I won´t even mention what´s going on in elderly homes where these poor old people are often isolated even from each other, only approached in full protection gear, many times carers only doing the bare minimum because of restrictions and understaffing. What angers me the most is that the elderly and other people at risk have never been asked whether they wanted this sort of "protection". It´s a disgrace if you ask me.
By your logic, a hug means potential death, so we´ll likely see millions of deaths after Christmas, right?
To anonymous 10:45
That story begs a few questions. Did the professor show signs of corona virus or was he actually properly diagnosed? If he got infected while hanging up christmas lights with his grandsons, how come the signs of infection appeared that same night? No infection results in symtoms so soon. Also, if he was so careful for months, how come he wasn´t that time? And the most important questions are of course - if they think that he got the infection from his grandsons - did THEY have corona, because if they didn´t they can´t have infected their grandfather. If they did have it, why did they visit him?
Don't lecture me on mental health problems, I have them myself but yes, I will sacrifice my own mental health in order to keep my grandmother alive. My grandmother lives with me, therefore I meet NOBODY else in order to keep her safe. Is it easy? No, but it is a sacrifice worth making, and one made out of love.
DeleteMillions of deaths - that's an exaggeration but thousands of deaths are quite enough. What you don't get is that most people don't know if they have the virus, therefore hugging means a potential death, yes. Thousands of people might hug and meet up this Christmas and be fine, but you don't know if you might be one of the thousands who have it and will infect someone, then that person might die (if they are in the risk group that is). you just don't know, so it is a deliberate risk you take - a potential death.
Vanessa,
DeleteI am not Anon 10:45. I have a name, It is Renay. I wrote it at the end if you had been observant. This story came from the daughter of the man who died. She is the one who provided this information. No, he did not have covid prior to the family meeting. Yes, he did test positive and die from it. The signs did not appear the same night as you wrote. They appeared twenty-four hours later as I wrote, which does happen in MANY cases. Children are vectors for this virus. Most of them can carry this virus, never shows signs of it, but pass it on to others. This family is going through a devastating time right now. Your ignorance, pomposity, and recklessness is sad and in very bad taste.
Michelle, thank you for your wise words. My family is also in healthcare and what we have seen and heard is so tragic.
Renay
Vanessa, I could swear you were the one that said you would never discuss COVID again. You have been very clear from the beginning that you are anti-mask, anti-social distancing, and disbelieving of the fact that this is serious. You have disagreed with the world's leading doctors and scientists. You have been trying to spread misinformation for months and months. I have no idea how many people need to die or suffer permanent damage before you admit we have a very serious, worldwide problem. If you are so concerned about mental health, convince yourself and all the other people of a like mind to do the right thing by "suffering" in the short term by masking, social distancing, or better yet, staying home if at all possible, so we can get this under control sooner than later. The sooner we get a handle on COVID, the sooner we get back to life as we once knew it. As long as we have people refusing to comply, the virus will continue to endure, mutate, sicken and kill. People will continue to suffer from isolation, and business will continue to fail. This will take all of us working together. I sincerely hope you do not have to learn the hard way just how misinformed you are.
DeleteLaurel, you have been just as difficult and argumentative. Again, I hope the same for you. I hope you don't have to learn how serious this is by losing a loved one. No one is enjoying life being lived this way, but we do what we have to do not just for ourselves and our families, but for our fellow man.
Dear Anon5:19am - This Covid has a RECOVERY RATE of 99.6% in all age groups - that means that 996 people out of 1,000 who "get it" will recover. I am not freaking out over it. I had a lovely time with my family - and we hugged. None of us have this Covid.
DeleteYes, I was one who said I would not discuss "Covid" anymore; but I felt I needed to reply to Vanessa's comment. I guess people are "difficult and argumentative" when we disagree with what you believe. But that's fine. Perhaps you need to research the other side of all this media hype and see what other people-in-the-know are saying. Just open your mind a bit, eh?
~Laurel~
Mary is adorable as always, but I agree with Anonymous 3:54 about the amaryllis. This is a colour clash!
ReplyDeleteLove the way she speaks Danish and kudos to her for highlighting such a big problem.
ReplyDeleteLoneliness affects a great deal of people all year round, but it is much harder to bear in this holiday period.
Like the berry colour of her dress.
CP Mary looks lovely. She is a real asset to Denmark.
ReplyDeleteI must be in the minority here but I find the colour of the top very draining on Mary.
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