I do not know what it is that makes me so happy to see the sun.
After all, I am an avid lover of the rain, but the sun today has made me feel optimistic and thus I wanted to speak briefly with you all.
The semester has been quite the adventure as the introduction of Coronavirus caused Americans to run around as a chicken does with its head chopped off. We of the saner bunch are at a loss of words.
To be short, I work in a grocery store and as small as it may be, seeing the slow but sure restock of perceived "emergency goods" has allowed me to hope that we will move past the destruction that occurred not long ago.
The governor is to reopen the state starting on the first. It will be slow, and social distancing will continue to be encouraged. I hope that people will adhere to these policies. Many of us are restless from being stuck in our homes while others of us have found our bliss and never want to leave. I admit that if I had no responsibilities elsewhere, I would be among the latter bunch. Being a homebody never hurt anybody.
I should admit that I consider myself to be a pessimist most of the time. Prepare for the worst is practically a life motto of mine, but I believe a little optimism could do some good for the present.
With that being said,
what are your thoughts? Do you see signs of slow recovery around you?
Since we only have a few more days left, I would love to hear this from you all.
Also, I completely forgot to tally up my score for last week,
ReplyDeleteComment: Can We Trust whats written by Humans
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14 bases + Final Post(20 runs), so 23, with 2 bases
"I have to admit, it's getting better. A little better all the time..." Count on early Beatles to brighten any day. Good day, sunshine!
ReplyDeleteA little optimism never did a pessimist any harm! Or vice versa. Just saw this in the Times: "In Praise of Pessimism" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/26/opinion/coronavirus-anxiety-pessimism.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage
Yeah, Patricia, I was out today and things, like store shelves, seemed a bit more normal. The reopening of cities, counties, states is slow to sink in for me: I wonder, Is it over?
ReplyDeleteTaking heed from the experts, I'm not sure that we're outta the woods yet, but I've been feeling that restlessness you mentioned. Just getting out to the library or local pub would be a nice change of a weeks-long solitary pace. Let's hope things keep improving!
Thanks, by the way, for all you've done at your job to keep things going for the rest of us.
I'm glad to see people be able to leave their homes and be confident that they'll be safe as they go about their business. I hope that this perceived normalcy will continue into the summer and that we can all return to campus in the Fall
DeleteHey Patricia, thanks for reflecting on the insanity that is the COVID 19 world. I'm a pretty optimistic pessimist myself: I expect things to go wrong, but I also try to rise to the occasion and not despair over it. I hope that you're keeping healthy and safe at work! Thanks for keeping us fed.
ReplyDeleteI know some people who haven't been socially distancing, and fortunately most of them aren't around compromised people. I think I feel more disappointed than angry about it. People have the option to make good decisions, and just refuse to do it sometimes. It can be frustrating. Overall though, the greater human community has taken the threat seriously and people have risen to the occasion.
For me personally, the insanity of the outer world matches my inner world. I just went through an awful breakup right as the quarantine started, and it added immensely to my sense of loneliness. I don't mind solitude at all, but feeling like there is no one to go to after the solitude (or in my case, losing my go-to person) is worse than being cooped up. I'm lucky to have close friends and family who offer their support. Still, my psychic pain is very low on the list of importance for the rest of the world; small woes get swallowed up in the enormous communal woe. It makes me cringe that people want to put others at risk over haircuts and such; but when it comes to my personal emotions, I too can be extremely selfish if I lose perspective. The thing is, we all are suffering to some extent. For some the pain is much more visceral; for others it's an inner problem, and it's unusual enough not to know how to handle it. The good thing is, one day we will have perspective on it, we'll be able to share our experiences and talk it over. We may even get some form of closure. Hopefully, we will know how to handle an emergency like this much better the next time around. I think the best thing we can do is rally around each other, support each other, and be kind to ourselves.
I have to admit that I went through something similar at the beginning of this pandemic. Luckily, I had people around me and at the other end of my phone that I could talk to that got me through all this craziness. I posted earlier this semester about the increase in depression and like-behaviors during this time, and even Trump has discussed the impact that this has had on society's mental health. It's strange, but as I witness these idiotic protests, I wonder if that played a role in their motivation to fight for their "right" for society to continue. It's definitely something to ponder..
ReplyDeleteI'm just a lite scared for things to reopen because I feel like it will only get worse before it gets better. I'm sure we will see a spike in cases and it scares me that one of my loved ones could possibly get it. I don't know, I'm just scared overall
ReplyDeletePeople are currently citing the Spanish Influenza, which killed more people in its second wave than the first.
DeleteOn that note, I ponder the notion that some doctors have discussed: the first cases of corona were back in November of last year, most people were diagnosed with severe upper respiratory infections because no one knew what it was. If that is the case, then the wave we have currently is actually the second wave.
I am not a doctor, so I cannot confirm nor deny these, though I was sick around that time and it was awful.
The reality is this: everyone has been inside their houses for over a month now. When they leave, they are going to have weaker immune systems because chances are they weren't doing or eating anything that would boost it. So when the flood gates open and everyone steps out into the world, people are going to get sick again because they are having to readjust again.
This is the stance I take on reopening. It's pretty straightforward so it allows for less fear towards the outcome.
Also "not a doctor" (meta-physician doesn't count), but here's a fanciful counter-theory: with so many more of our neighbors taking daily pandemic walks during quarantine than before, there will actually be a spike in boosted immunity and overall health. It's the Peripatetic Cure! (And I know, it's probably a fantasy. But wouldn't it be nice!)
DeleteWhile shutdowns and shelter in place and all of this other stuff going on - I do worry it's too early. I don't know if I could make it through a second wave of this, just being completely transparent. I've hardly made it through the first (if this is the first, that is.) I'm crossing my fingers that it is the second.
ReplyDeleteIve seen some emergence out of the lockdown. More cars on the road, and more phone calls from businesses. I gotta say I'm also worried about a second wave, I just dont trust people to keep cool under the circumstances and worry about some going overboard and getting everyone infected.
ReplyDelete