This week we recognized the 500,000th death in the United States to Covid-19. It would be shame if we did not at least acquire some new insights. Here are seven things that the pandemic has challenged for us.
1. Our mirage of control. Humans have learned to control and separate the natural environment to such a large degree. Scary animals are in a zoo. We have houses to keep out weather. This disease is carried by humans and we aren’t very good at controlling ourselves. At the same time our weather patterns are out of the box. Did we have a role in bringing about both? Perhaps, so we need to see about doing things better.
2. Job security for women. Got kids? We found out really fast who is sacrificing their income for childcare and home school—it’s mostly the women. Statistically women are still losing jobs while men’s losses and gains have evened out.
3. Money and power can trump public health. Just look at all the people refusing to wear masks or social distance. Many companies, had their essential workers taking risks while not providing protection or given paid leave or health care if they got sick. I won’t go on too much about politics, but if this was a ruse by the Democrats, it should have gone away on January 20th.
4. Evolution is real and fast. This virus is throwing out more variations than we can keep up with. The South African one makes shots half as viable, the European one is more communicable and there’s a New England one with a massive viral load.
5. Survival goes to the flexible. In our downtown area, some companies have closed, but some are thriving or at least surviving. My daughter’s dance class has bent and twisted for each new challenge. They’ve danced on Zoom, danced in ten foot squares, danced in masks, and danced on different days. I am so, so grateful to have one activity survive.
6. Fear is dangerous. Remember all the toilet paper hoarding? People are also hiding at home looking for a bad guy to blame all this on and the Internet is providing enough conspiracies to fill the imagination and more. We need to reconnect with each other, and let others know they aren’t alone and it’s not all crazy.
7. Our kids are troopers. Distance learning is about as fun as doing taxes. Nothing I went through as a kid is as challenging as this, I would rather walk to school uphill in the snow every day compared with this. These kids have had so many camp, sports, party and activity cancellations. I think this upcoming generation will have a lot of grit when this is over.
So what are my take-aways? We can make it if we share, if let go of some of our pride and if we keep our minds open to new ideas and new solutions. I have accepted that things may not ever be exactly as they were, but if we care for each other, then all will not have been lost.
