Right now, the news headlines are plastered with stories about having grace, infringing on rights, opening up the economy, staying in quarantine, and so many arguments I can’t keep up anymore. I want to talk about something not a lot of us have been lately, and we should: understanding.
There are a lot of varying opinions on the quarantine and articles with many different viewpoints. That is great, but if we are going to live in a free country, it doesn’t mean we should be inconsiderate of others; or that our opinion is more valid than someone else’s.
I get it. This is so hard on everyone. Some are losing their jobs and income. Some are unable to leave their house. Mental health is dwindling. Working from home with kids. E-learning. (Don’t even get me started on how hard this is!) Businesses may close. This is hard on us nurses and healthcare workers, too. Yes, we still have a job, but that doesn’t mean we have it easy. It certainly doesn’t mean we aren’t suffering.
I have my good days and my bad days. Some days I am blown away with gratitude from the overwhelming generosity from the public. Other days I Facetime my primary care provider on my lunch break and end up with a new prescription for Lexapro while sobbing over my lunch.
Opening up the economy may seem, to some, as if breathing is a little easier. To us healthcare workers, it feels like a slap in the face, minimizing all the hard work we have been doing as a society this past month. Some may fear what opening the economy will bring. There will undoubtedly be crowds, shoppers, and those who just want to get out of the house. Whether or not we all agree with it, it’s happening.
Let us all be understanding that others make their own choices. Let us all be understanding that some of us would still like to stay socially distant. Don’t scoff at those in crowds. Don’t huff when I ask you to step back so I may have my personal space. Respect each other. This should not be what divides us. This should be what brings us together.
We all have our rights, but we are also free to exercise understanding and common sense. Just be a good person; to yourself and to others.
