Love in the time of COVID-19

Wednesday on the main blog I made a comparison to people reacting badly to government requests circa WWI and people reacting badly to COVID-19.

https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2020/03/dont-be-like-that.html

I wanted to do a post about good reactions today.

I don't think it would be valuable to give health tips. There is a lot of good information out there, though there is also a lot of bad information too. I saw a very nice graphic today about how you can get rid of Coronavirus by frequent gargling at the start of the disease. (You can't.)

I also remembered doing a post a little over ten years ago that is kind of relevant:

https://preparedspork.blogspot.com/2009/03/november-2008-in-case-of-pandemic.html

That is not terrible information, though there was a certain optimism there about the possibility of being financially secure and well-rested. The financial collapse that had just happened there mattered, and many other unhelpful (sometimes orange) things have happened.

So I think the only really useful thing I can say is be kind.

There may be some room for compassion toward people who only watch Fox News and do not have good information. Maybe sharing helpful articles is good in that case. There may be room for compassion toward people who defiantly risk spreading disease because they think it proves something, or people who panic hoard, or people who try and fail at profiteering. If you feel anger instead, though, that is totally okay.

However, there is a lot of room for compassion on those who will be cut off socially, and may be relying on screen time more, with those specific shortcomings. There is room for compassion on those who will be trying to work from home with the added stress of managing children, or people who will take serious income losses from this. There is room for compassion toward health care workers and elderly people and people who are at a greater risk of infection and death.

So first, really try not to spread the disease. It is better not to get sick, but some will get sick and reducing that number allows better care for them.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-italy-hospitals-doctor-lockdown-quarantine-intensive-care-a9401186.html

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/10/814091024/you-have-a-fever-and-a-dry-cough-now-what

More people staying well also means more people being able to wash and sanitize and keep up nutrition. Sure, get the things that you need, but don't hoard. You need other people to be well, so they can ring up your purchases and pick up your garbage and take care of you if you do get sick and you need them to not infect your grandparents. We need to be fighting the disease, not each other.

(Also understandable, a mix of compassion and irritation on teams and Rose Court princesses and drama students who just think their things shouldn't be canceled. They will gain perspective eventually.)

If you can help financially, there will be people needing it. Maybe a concert was canceled, but you can buy a T-shirt or vinyl. Maybe you can pay for someone's groceries. Meals on Wheels and food banks will be contributing a lot; maybe you can help with that. Not everyone will be able to give their tenants a free month of rent, but that could help a lot.

https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/south-portland-landlord-challenges-others-to-offer-financial-relief-due-to-coronavirus-concerns/97-bac48d89-43df-434a-93a6-4734445206dd?

Sadly, often the best people have the least money, but there are still ways to help for those stressed and lonely. A question about sanitizing mail worries me that this is not the time for cheerful notes, but there is still Skype and e-mail and phone calls and Snapchat. If technology means that we can carry germs all over the world in a few hours, it also means that we can remember each other and connect without spreading germs.

(Remember to sanitize your phone.)

Personally, I am going to be struggling. As my mother's dementia has gotten worse, I need more time physically away from her, and this is going to make it hard. It also makes having phone calls that aren't taking time away from her or irritating her hard. I worry about that, but I believe in the possibility of solutions. I believe in kindness.

I also believe in the power of prayer. It is not just that things can happen that are not done by us, but also that prayer can focus us, so that we get better ideas and are better at executing them. Start there and see what happens.

This is not going to be easy, but people can either make things better or worse.

Make it better.