Now is the time.
In my life like many others, I have gone through a lot of hardships and I’m sure there are still some to come. I don’t doubt this. And whether my hardships have been worse or not so worse from other people’s hardships is not the question. It doesn’t matter. It’s not a competition.
Right now with the coronavirus going on I wonder how many people will actually stand still a moment to reflect on life, their own and that of others and the impact they have on other people’s lives. Because right now each and everyone is responsible, not only for themselves but for others just alike. Social distancing is not about saving ourselves. It’s about saving others.
People have become so egocentric that they forget this to be the most important reason for social distancing. Just like quarantine, because you can not distance yourself from yourself physically so other then self-care there’s little we can do to protect ourselves.
Wash your hands because you may touch something and spread the virus without knowing and someone else might get seriously sick or worse die from the particles of the virus that you spread. Are you worried about your social life? I’m almost speechless. We have so many ways of communication digitally, it’s time to use it for something other than entertainment or work.
It’s over two weeks now that I have decided to stay indoors as much as possible. Now, this is not a great hardship for me, I always have been very isolated. But right now I barely go to the store and only leave my house to walk my dog. When I do I first wash my hands. When I go downstairs I bring the garbage I have with me to throw out and on my way back in I check my mailbox. When I come back to the house I open and read my mail, dispose of what I don’t need to keep. Then I wash my hands and clean my door handles and keys. I have always washed my hands a lot I’m just a little more aware of it now and wash them even more often.
I used to touch my face a lot but with this new awareness, I find it easy to not touch my face so much. Awareness, compassion, discipline, self-care, and self-control should be in the very first row of your lives now. And no that’s not selfish. That’s lifesaving.
What else can you do? Wear a mouth mask. When they are sold out you may try to sew your own for yourself and others. Or simply use a shawl. Because even those that are not the highest quality will limit the number of particles that leave your mouth and nose. Sometimes by speech other times by sneezing or coughing. To protect yourself you can wear eye protection. A mouth mask is not going to save your life. But that of others. Being the hero a lot of us dreams of being has become incredibly easy right now. Be that hero. Now is the time.