It Could Be Worse

I’ve been through worse.

That feels wrong to say out loud, when the entire planet is in a state of panic, but it’s true. I've been through worse.

And I’m guessing many of you have too.

I don’t say this to minimize the grief, fear, or anxiety we feel. That’s all very real. Figuring out this new normal takes all kinds of adjustments (of both our routines and our attitudes). Living in a state of unknown is HARD.

I don’t say this with a lack of empathy for the parents who are trying to hold down jobs while homeschooling their kids. Or for the seniors who will miss out on the teenage rites of passages like prom and graduation. Or to the small business owners who are struggling to keep afloat. I feel - DEEPLY - for all of you.

And I certainly don’t say that with a lack of acknowledgement that, for many - nurses on the frontline, those sick with the disease or fearing for the life of an infected loved one, or those experiencing their own grief on top of the grief of a global pandemic - that for them, this might be their worst.

But for the vast majority of us, this is not our worst.

What we are being asked of - to remain in our homes in order to look out for each other - is uncomfortable and inconvenient. It’s unfair. It’s full of unknowns. And what we don’t know tends to lead to fear.

Fear is hard to sit with.

But what we are being asked, is not the worst.

What we are being asked, is to make a decision on an individual level - to stay put - in order to help the collective whole. We are being asked to be creative with our time and how we connect with each other. We are being asked to catch up on the stack of books on our shelves. We are being asked to rest. To reflect.

And yes, we are being asked to sacrifice.

And I know that’s hard. It’s hard for me too.

But like so many of you, I’ve survived worse.

So let’s stay home, force some quarantined joy, and keep this period of time from becoming more people’s worst.