I am feeling worried, of course, about the infection and of the short and long term economic effects. Worried also that we won’t be allowed to learn the lessons inherent in this situation, about the value of work, of community, of sustainability, both physical and social.
This shut down has impacted my life, and I’ve been laid off from my part-time job, and I need to make ends meet. Also, I am not able to meet in fellowship with my friends, which is a significant loss.
I am concerned that aside from personal demise, of course, the fear that society will collapse into unconsidered anarchy, and bring about an authoritarian reaction, as it did in France after the “Reign of Terror,” as it seems to be doing in Hungary today.
Americans almost always insist on an exemption from the rules they feel others should follow. However, folks have been behaving civilly and sensibly in Los Angeles for the most part, except for hoarders. I am very upset about these damn fools holding beach parties and megachurch services despite the harm they will bring not only to themselves but to the people around them.
My message for the rest of the world is — just breathe. Love speaks across the distances between us; do your part in spreading and showing it. Allow yourself to trust others after vetting their words and actions carefully. Let go of possessiveness and ego. Learn to cook.
My life has become quieter, cleaner, friendlier. Even if we do greet each other from six feet apart, we are greeting each other more. People are walking more even though driving is not all that restricted here. We are exchanging stories of how we cope.
Once this is over, with luck, we’ll pay more attention to human values and categorize each other less as economic entities than as kindred souls and that we are in this together.
https://medium.com/@tamishaikh/a-writer-with-a-message-of-love-in-the-time-of-covid-19-63a5b64b5b83