Through A Wider Lens...

Hi,



First off, in all of this chaos, it's awesome to see just how amazing the human race can be. It's beautiful to see the cheers for the heroes on the front line of this thing. It's incredible to see the acts of kindness that are rippling across every imaginary line drawn in the sand.

It's hard not to think of this through a wider lens.

Beyond the nuts and bolts of the horror of the losses. The loss of loved ones, the financial loss, the loss of freedoms we take for granted every single day. Beyond the uncertainty, the stress, the anxiety. Beyond the threat against everything, we, as a global society, have been conditioned to deem important. Beyond all of the 'stuff', the wider lens takes in so much more.

We are being shown what kind of people we are.

Are we people who care enough about others to stay home?
Are we people who are capable of digesting facts and accepting them even though they aren't pleasant?
Are we able to embrace bizarro world level discomfort for the short term to help ourselves in the long run?



This Covid-19 thing has blanketed every news outlet across the globe for months. Yet, there are still those who want to claim innocent ignorance. I'm sorry, but if you still don't know how this is transmitted, how serious it can be, how overwhelmed the world's medical communities have become, that is willful, deliberate ignorance.


There is no such thing as overkill when it comes to precautions.

I would much rather look back a year from now and think we did too much than not enough.

I would rather be forced to close our businesses, and live in a tent than infect someone with this thing.

There are still way too many people out there not willing to take this thing seriously. They bitch and moan about what a pain in the ass all of these restrictions create.

I get it. This is the longest I've ever had to go without a hug from a grandbaby. No going to movies. No girl's nights.

I get it. I keep thinking about my mom. She's an eighty-year-old cancer surviving, diabetic with a heart condition.
I keep thinking about my diabetic sister who is immune-compromised.
I keep thinking about my daughter who is immune-compromised.
I keep thinking about my niece with auto-immune and thyroid issues.
I keep thinking about my cancer surviving neighbours.


Who would I be willing to sacrifice for a date night?

Who would you be willing to sacrifice?

I know that sounds dramatic, but that doesn't make it any less real.

There are still those out there that are spouting incredibly stupid and dangerous conspiracy theories about this. Trying to lessen its gravitas by spreading gravely stupid misinformation.

This is not political. This, at its core, is not economical. This is medical. Period.


So, stay home.

It's not a prison sentence. For most of us, it's an inconvenience. A big one, but an inconvenience all the same.

For some, it's a hell of a lot tougher. Be a helper, not a whiner.

If you are able, donate. Food banks are being taxed to their limits right now, meal delivery charities need help,

Through all of this, please remember that it's okay to laugh. It's okay to create fun within your walls. Call people who are weathering this alone. Check in. Tap into your goofy. Get creative.

Virtual birthday parties using group video chats. (Our grandbaby turned four this week!)
Dance parties!
Make movies, make cookies, make crafty things, make clean-out-the-fridge soup.
Make memories.

Take care. Take care of you, those you love, and those you have never met.

We got this.




**************************************************************


May you stay safe, stay healthy, stay diligent in doing what we all need to do.
May you see beyond the discomfort, this is the best thing for you and all who love you.

May we all do our part to help this horror become history.
May we allow ourselves to accept that how to do that is not some fantastic mystery.

The way through this is really very simple, it requires nothing further than what is already known.
The quickest way through this is candidly, honestly, easily, stay the hell at home.


***************************************************************


www.margyreidbooks.com