Yesterday I got a call from a friend. She shared upcoming plans with me — and added that she would not be discussing them widely because she did not want to deal with judging.
Harper B for Be Nice.
I have thought about how this tendency to believe OUR decisions are the only true and correct decisions — making all other choices wrong and bad — will play out during this pandemic.
Her phone call suggested an answer.
Life with Covid-19 may well amplify two realities about human behavior:
People judge/criticize.
People seek to avoid judgement/criticism.
The consequence of those two things, of course, is that there will be LESS connection during a time when we need more connection.
Oh Dear.
Can we just agree that our contributions to flattening the curve may well be different from each other?
I will avoid liquor stores, for example, because alcohol is not essential in my world.
But maybe it is for you — and so out you go into the Great Viral Unknown to stock up on gin, tequila, and wine.
My friend may think hope is essential and so will venture out to get a progesterone test done on her dog.
The assessment of what is a necessary risk or essential service will reflect what is unique and individual about a person and/or family. It seems so important to understand and respect this new kind of diversity (within the limits of necessary public policies).
You need a quarantini — she needs hope.
Daisy
We need to flatten the curve — not each other.