All, but one, are disinfecting and using the abundance of caution. (Right now, for me “in an abundance of caution” has become the most overused phrase – the “hunker down” of hurricane season. ) In an abundance of caution, I’m going to talk about it lest I explode with annoyance. Are you annoyed or is it just me?
Hallmark told me they were closing stores, and while socially distant I should reach out to friends. (They never mentioned send a Hallmark card, to their credit.) My doctor’s office told me that if I don’t feel well, just call, don’t come. And, when I call, they will see how they can help me from afar. My other doctor’s office has banned children under 18 years old from going to the office. Of course, most children have not gotten the virus, so I’m thinking the workers have always wanted to get rid of all of the crying kids in the office, and now, in the abundance of “caution”, they get their way. Panera is cleaning extra and maybe they will put my You Pick 2 somewhere for me to pick up if things get bad. Moe’s is cleaning and providing gloves to their workers. Office Depot is restocking as quickly as they can, especially the paper goods (why does Office Depot sell toilet paper, anyway?) and iHeart Radio has the Covid 19 podcast available, as though I’m not getting enough coronovirus information. Hilton is cleaning the bathrooms more frequently and letting us cancel our rezzis with no penalty. And the list goes on and on and on.
I love the one company, Mountain Meadow Wool, (they sell yarn) that wrote to me and told me that they were praying for my good health and safety during this time. It was a sweet reminder that perfect love casts out fear. They didn’t tell me about disinfection processes or tell me how they added Purell stations to their establishments. They just said they would pray. It was refreshing.
In fairness, Macy’s was a bit different than the others. Yes, they are cleaning, my health is their priority, but they are also giving two weeks’ salary to anyone who is forced to self isolate. I love that idea. They didn’t wait until it became the law, they just did what was right. Immediately.
My school just announced a 2 week closing, right after the washing hands missive and the “we are cleaning intensively every day” advisement. We will be delivering instruction digitally.
Everything is being sent with the abundance of caution in mind. I hope that all of us stay healthy and well, physically. I pray that the virus is met with plenty of vaccines, developed rapidly and successfully. I pray that the abundance of caution, is truly just that – abundant, beyond the actual need.
However, I am truly concerned for the state of mind of the people in our circles. Coronomail has been a source of study for me. They have the same tone that you use when you have to say something you know will make someone upset and that someone has a short fuse and a hot temper.
Yet, I am getting pictures from family this morning who are out and about on their regular shopping, not corona shopping. Lines. Empty shelves. Masks. Hoarding.
I just received this meme from my brother. Not so much for the content, but for the misspelling. Yet, it applies, so I share.
Unfortunately, they could not spell unfortunately. Unfortunately, the general public is in complete fear mode. To me, it would be a shame to be completely healthy and mentally and emotionally crippled with fear. As I spoke with my students in person on Friday, and going forward virtually, I keep encouraging them to keep perspective. Be mindful to wash your hands. (And, as I like to point out to them, “Welcome to the rest of civilization – we always have washed our hands.”) Be be just as mindful to wash your minds of irrational fears. Have an awareness of your surroundings and do the things that will best position you to be in the majority of people who will be unaffected. But, keep your mind focused on good things. Use your time to be creative and productive. Spend time building memories with your families. Develop a new interest. Keep your mind corona free. Keep your mind free of fear. Wash your mind with good thoughts. (As a teacher in a Christian school, I can easily point students to Bible verses that pertain to dealing with fear. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a mind.” That’s one of my personal favorites, so I always share that one. I remind them that reading the Bible will definitely provide perspective. For those teachers where the Bible is not part of your available tool kit, you can definitely use that facts of probability to help ease students’ minds. This math teacher certainly does. You can also use inspirational poetry and affirmations to help your students reframe their thoughts. )
Coronamail has been both amusing and annoying, but most of all, it has been instructive. It has tapped into the spirit of America, which currently is riddled with fear. Fear is a choice. Hope is a choice. I choose hope every time. I choose to hope that each of my students is blessed and well. I hope that each family that is contending with illness, whether this virus or the flu, has support and love from those of us who are remaining healthy. I hope that each of us finds ways to share support and love and hope to those who need it.
Now, on to developing Corona teaching! Corona assessments!
First published March 14, 2020
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