We are living through unprecedented times with our government and health professionals trying to balance a lethal pandemic with democracy’s focus on civil liberties. The world is changing so quickly, with self-isolation, closure of restaurants, shops, gyms, movie theaters, and more. Travel has been greatly restricted, and we may not have seen the full impact yet. There are still options about a national curfew or forced containment. Our individual actions are vital: as Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the head of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, has said, we will only be successful in slowing the devastating effects of this virus if we ALL “cooperate and collaborate”.
People are scared: for their health, for their finances, for their loved ones, for our society. Where will this lead us, how long will this last, and what will our world look like when the pandemic has passed (by creating a vaccine, by gaining immunity or simply because the pandemic has run its course)?
For now, we must stay at home, isolated. How do we maintain our sanity, our relationships, and our own health? There are plenty of negative things on which we can focus, and plenty of fears on which we can immerse ourselves. And to some extent, feeling all the negativity and fear is necessary; we have to process so many changes.
I’d like to offer another way to look at things that perhaps might provide comfort to you. It is possible that a year from now, we may view this horrific event as leading us to a better place.
Redesign our social safety net
My hope is, as a society, we will gain respect and admiration for teachers, grocery store clerks, nurses, home healthcare workers, restaurant chefs and wait staff, and other crucial functions. So many of these workers are underpaid and with no job protections or benefits. Perhaps we will change in the way we value these crucial functions. Trying home-schooling two children and see how remarkable and underpaid their teacher is. Recognize the heroic effort of healthcare workers and provide them with better job protections. Appreciate the dedication of those stocking our supermarkets, cooking our food and running food pantries, and provide them with paid sick/family leave. We may even get so far as having a serious conversation about a Universal Basic Income so that no one has to worry about losing their home/car/livelihood in a pandemic or a natural disaster or a health care crisis.
Increase our appreciation of and connection to Mother Nature
We have a great outdoors that allows for natural “social distancing” and shows us the constant cycle of renewal. We may learn to hear the birds sing again. We may revel at the majesty of trees, and the beauty of flowers. My hope is we will spend more time outside, getting sunshine and feeling the wind, rather than spending so much of our free time inside, as we do now, at the mall, movie theater, or watching TV. We can get closer to our food, slow-cooking and giving thanks to the earth for growing fruits, vegetables and grains. We can celebrate the serenity of our pets. My hope is that a rising awareness of the bounty of our planet will translate into a greater effort to address Climate Change once this pandemic has passed. I’m cheered that New Yorkers who currently fear the close proximity of the subway/bus, are getting on their bikes, and as a result, the city is creating more bike lanes. Better for our health, better for our air, and better for the planet.
Strengthen our neighborhoods and communities
Let’s face it, we are a polarized society at the moment, with identity politics pushing a lot of shaming, canceling, and hate speech, especially on social media. To get through this pandemic, we are going to have to support one another, taking care of our family members and neighbors. We have bigger concerns than pushing people away because they voted for someone else, or because they look different. My hope is we will learn to appreciate each other more, practice greater tolerance, learn about each other, and make sacrifices that help one another. If we look at history, in times of war or natural disaster, we see this increase in a sense of community. Even if we cannot hold neighborhood BBQs as we did after the Northridge Earthquake, we can practice tolerance and support. If we have to go to the store, ask a neighbor if they need anything (you can leave it at their doorstep if necessary). We can reach out to friends via phone and video – so we are talking and listening to one another, not just posting “look at me” pictures on social media. We might learn to care more about each other and know that we can live our purpose merely by making a phone call to someone isolated.
So here we are, in an unusual situation, with a lot of uncertainty. There is hoarding, shortages, fear, scarcity, and loneliness, but there is also a chance for us to change so many things that have gone off-course in our culture. It's a chance for us to self-correct: kindness, acceptance, respect, and dignity may prevail once again. What we know for certain is that we are in this together, and we must get through it together. Please let me know how I can help you. I welcome your feedback on this post, as always. Just log in to leave a comment. Thank you!
Please feel free to scroll through the photos that show Mother Nature at her glory!
Well said. I agree 100%.
Bravo! So insightful and eloquent...we ARE in this TOGETHER and we WiILL weather through TOGETHER!