It has been pretty nutty lately, hasn’t it?
Everywhere you look, every time you talk to friends, every time you run some errands or even just go out for a walk, there is clearly something different. It seems the atmosphere itself has changed as a result of the pandemic. It’s strange. For better or for worse, it certainly is strange.
Personally, I feel like I’m benefiting from this social distancing and scare-your-neighbors-to-stay-indoors thing. Sure, meeting new people is super awkward now (“Hi! Nice-to-meet-you handshake-from-six-feet-away. #NoTouching”), but I don’t have to take my walks late at night to get the sidewalk almost entirely to myself despite where I go. (I love night walks, but it’s nice to see some sunlight every once in a while.)
The pandemic has also made the character of people clear, giving me an opportunity to reflect not only on how others are responding to the situation, but also to how I am responding to it. Have you looked at how you are reacting to the COVID-19 threat? How are you changing your behavior as a result of the novel coronavirus, social distancing, and all of the new rules and expectations that entails?
How Have I Responded COVID-19?
I live with an elderly woman, so I bought a pump bottle hand sanitizer for the house and put up a sign asking people to please use it. I also bought some canned goods, but that was more as a result of there not being any eggs (!!!) than that I’m actually concerned about an extended quarantine. Additionally, and much to my chagrin, I’m working from home; I suppose it saves on gas, but I’m one of those people who relies on a separate office spade to separate work from the rest of the day. (Now I’m going to bed and waking up thinking about how to phrase something in an office action response; I don’t believe that’s considered healthy.)
These things are pretty typical, but they certainly don’t characterize my response. My response has been so multi-faceted that I’m dedicating a separate post to it. The gist of it, basically, is that I’m Catholic and I’m American; don’t you dare tell me what I can and cannot do.
How Does the Public At Large Appear to be Reacting?
Well, if you’re tuned in to just about anything – social media, the news, or just have ventured to the store recently yourself – you’ve probably noticed some of the shelves seem pretty bare. There’s nothing wrong with the supply chain; the vast majority of the supplies the stores are out of will be replenished in a week or two. Regardless some people are buying absurd amounts of stuff.
One of the biggest concerns is toilet paper. Luckily, I bought a relatively large thing of it a few weeks before the fears crept near us, so I still have a couple of weeks worth of the stuff, but there are people who are going pretty crazy over toilet paper. I’m talking Black Friday Tickle-Me-Elmo crazy: attacking people, launching oneself at restocking pallets, the works. That’s nuts, people. And if you’re one of the people ripping products out of a store associate’s hands, you should seriously visit a psychiatrist. Seriously.
And don’t get me started about the breathing face masks. Masks are used to prevent someone from giving away a contagion, but it doesn’t prevent you from catching one. Realistically, because COVID-19 is spread by the virus entering the body through holes in the face (mouth, ears, nose, pores… take your pick), and because someone wearing a mask is more likely to touch their face than someone who isn’t (because they have an uncomfortable mask to adjust), wearing a mask makes it more likely that someone is going to contract the virus. Simply put, unless you’re sick, don’t wear a mask.
But viciously hoarding toilet paper and other products isn’t the only reaction.
How Are Others Responding?
Amidst all the chaos, there is a lot of helping going on. People are reaching out to friends and neighbors in need. People are also reaching out to strangers in need.
Think Freecycle is where all the peace-loving hippies hang out? Okay, then explain the same thing happening on Craigslist:
Maybe it’s just those Concordians (Concordites?). That must be it, right?
Buffalo, New York has the same postings. And I’m willing to bet that most cities have similar postings all across the United States. Why would I be willing to make that bet?
Because the American spirit is alive. We are a loving, giving people.
Oh, and companies are getting involved, too.
What an amazing time to be alive.
What Do You Choose to See?
For some of us, the positive responses effectively smack us in the face. Maybe people close to you are the ones offering free stuff or reaching out via phone to check on friends. (The guidelines are to stay physically separated, but not to isolate yourself.) Maybe you’re the one reaching out to those you love or the unattended in your community. Maybe you snatched that bundle of toilet paper out of the associate’s hands because you promised to fetch one for Tiny Tim.
There is so much going on right now. Most of what’s covered in the news is dramatic because the drama is what keeps everyone glued to their newsfeeds. Ignore the drama. Find the grace. There are wonderful acts of kindness everywhere and even in the most trying of times. In fact, in the most trying of times, there are often more acts of kindness because this is when we realize that our neighbors need us to be kind!
What marvelous things are you noticing? We face this virus together, even though we’re physically separated. How are you helping your community to grow?
