CXXII: Let's Be Real About The Times.

We are currently living in a time that will go down in history.

Not only has the world flipped on its axis politically, civilly, and in terms of humanity, but we are living in the first world-wide quarantine. During these times, it is important to know that we are currently shaping the future of the textbooks that our kids and their kids will read. If we want that excerpt or chapter, or whatever we become, to be worthy of their eyes, then we should be doing the work now.

Sadly, however, the majority of the headlines that we see today are of all of the work that we have yet to even acknowledge. Yes, the news will generally shine more of the negativity light than the positivity one, but, we are the ones giving them the content…

THERE HAVE BEEN MORE STORIES ABOUT ADULTS COUGHING, SPITTING AND WIPING THEIR GERMS ONTO OTHER PEOPLE AND EVEN PRODUCE THAN EVER BEFORE.

And that is a weird sentence for many reasons! But, we have to ask ourselves, is this the legacy that we really want to leave behind? Is it more important to go viral for acting out and being selfish then it would be to just live and be civil?

I know one thing for sure: These circumstances have truly shined a light on where we are as a general body of people; where we are as a nation; where we are as friends; etc.

I am seeing so much during this time where we can do so little that it is both eye-opening and overwhelming.

I: I Knew That We Were Selfish, But This Is A New Low

While looking at the way that people are hoarding everyday items so that they can resell them at 700% mark up or simply keep everyone else from having them, do you feel a sense of disappointment? You should.

I knew that many people within this world were selfish, but watching the way that we react [out of fear] during a pandemic has been nothing short of embarrassing. It has allowed for us to see if we are really as into our religion and faith as we claim to be (i.e. are the people around you panicked or still); it has allowed us to see who our true friends and colleagues are (who has checked on you lately); and it has shown us that, in times of need, much of the world will turn their backs on you in order to survive.

These are sad realities, and although we can find glimmers of joy and hope throughout all of the bad news, it is hard to turn a blind eye to all of the selfishness already displayed.

II: I Am So Happy To See People Actually Spending Time With Their Loved Ones!

I don’t think that I’ve ever been more proud of parents and humanity than I am now.

During daily workouts or walks outside, I can see so many families hanging out at parks, having picnics, playing badminton at the courts, riding bicycles, laughing, playing, and talking. It makes me so happy to see families actually engaging with each other these days that I awkwardly want to go up to them and congratulate them!

I, of course, would not do this, but I am happy to see families being families.

III: A Lot Of Us Have Forgotten To Be Human

I really don’t want to rant about people hoarding toilet paper (as if that will save them from death); I don’t want to bring up the fact that we hear nothing but death and sadness when we turn on the television; I don’t want to mention the people who are going around coughing and sneezing on people knowing that they have the virus; and I definitely don’t want to talk about the fact that people didn’t know that they had to wash their hands until now.

I honestly just want to talk about the fact that some of us are forgetting to take ourselves off the the pedestal that we think we belong on so that things can go back to normal (whatever that is).

There are many people who are still working. There are many people who are still physically showing up to work, clocking in and earning a paycheck. These people either don’t have a say in whether or not they show up or they are the very people working to keep us alive.

I know that it is hard to stay in the house and not meet up with friends or lovers or hang out, but for this short time in our lives we’ve been asked to SIT DOWN and stay there. These are simple commands that we expect even dogs to follow and yet we, as humans, are struggling to do it ourselves.

At this point, there should not be a soul who does not see the threat of this virus, the lack of medical equipment to treat it, and the complete absence of a cure or vaccine. This is a real threat.

And we are making history in the worst possible way right now.

Many of us don’t want these days to be our legacy. We don’t want to be remembered sitting in a house passing the time however we can. We want more for ourselves. But, if obeying the rules now will make for a better future and a bigger legacy later, why not just do it?

When they read about this pandemic in their history books, I don’t want the stories of people coughing and spitting on each other to come up. I want the stories of:

1. Cafe Gelato in South Carolina serving school lunches to students in need even though school is not in session

2. Celebrities putting on free concerts on social networking sites and using their talents in meaningful ways

3. People making care packages for those fighting this virus on the front lines

4. Celebrating life each day whether or not we’re stuck inside

5. And, staying positive throughout it all.

If they’re going to have to read about us later, let’s at least make it good.