Though the purpose of my book and blog is certainly not to dwell on current affairs, it is hard not to speak of issues we face. The COVID-19 pandemic put the word death on the media screens everywhere. The FEAR was that everyone would or could get this awful horrific virus and die! The FEAR was that hospitals would not be able to handle the number of cases. Adding to the fear was a belief that if you didn’t get it, you could still be carrying it and infecting many that you came in contact with.
We Closed the World for COVID-19. I returned home from a month long trip visiting friends and great sites in New Zealand on February 27. The concern there was that innkeepers knew that a lot of tourists from China were cancelling and they were concerned about income loss. Other than that I was “out of touch”. Then I got home, went to a grocery store and couldn’t buy toilet paper, and by March 15 my part of the world was scared and shut down.
Have you made sense of it all? We created friction between individuals – “you went outside of your home?” OR “Are you a scaredy-cat?”
We pointed fingers at just about everyone arguing blame and poor decisions. And this was not limited to the USA though we were certainly out front. Friends of mine from around the world have their own stories – of new poverty, anger, mental health issues, physical health issues, and more.
And I am not trying to dispel any of your beliefs or fears. Only you can do that. I only know what I think – and I don’t have a direct line to “the truth”. Who does?
Every day you make a decision that impacts the chances of you dying. If you get into a car, what is the chance of an auto accident? Getting on a plane, same question arises? Eating new type of food? Trying a new sport? Pushing your own limits as you jog in the heat? Don’t seek medical advice when facing a personal quagmire?
During this pandemic we now face decisions as your respective state opens back up. Do you go back to your office or job? Do you keep wearing a mask even when not required? Do you join friends? Are you eating in restaurants or not yet ready to try a take out?
There are stories and facts for every one of those scenarios. Do you stop and analyze those before you get into a car? Probably not….But you surely have had that awful gut wrenching concern about the Coronavirus at least some time during the last few months.
