“ . . . for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
- Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act2: Scene 2
I have been thinking about this. Now I cannot say whether I am right or wrong but I will say this: This thing is bigger than each of us, but it is not bigger than all of us. (You may quote me if you wish, just please, spell my name right.)
It is true that this virus is virulent. It travels fast, far and can be long lasting. We can’t see it, touch it, smell it, hear it or taste it. It comes stealthily in the broadest of daylights and the darkest of nights. It does not pick and choose willingly, it drops in randomly. You know, like that old college friend did for years. The one who you could never figure out why he liked you but there he was again, drinking your beer and smoking you pot. The CV is like that. Just dropping in unannounced. The difference now is that we know that:
- He is in town and
- We can hide out.
The hiding out part seems to be occupying the minds of quite a few FB posters out there. I know that this all seems scary, yet we have tools to fight a good fight. Of course I refer to the bevy of new songs and videos that encourage us to employ good hygiene. My current favorite, for which you will thank me in the morning:
Basically, the question is not IF we face this thing but more-so HOW we face this thing. It is in the thinking ABOUT the thing that we must master. Is it bigger than us, or are we bigger than it? And WHEN we survive the question will become: How harshly we judge ourselves will depend on the MANNER in which we survived?
We can fuel our fears with numbers that, and I sincerely promise* you this, are not accurate. OR, we can thoughtfully understand the science behind the situation, develop a plan and then work the plan.
For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
Work your routine, stay in touch with your friends, employ good hygiene and take the news with a grain of salt.
Until Tomorrow,
Tommy Judt
*Let us look at what we know for sure:
- There are not enough kits to test everyone for the virus.
- The number of cases reported only represent a selection of the people who have been tested and they do not represent the number of negative test results.
- The number of deaths may be accurate but there is no relativity to the number of cases reported for there are many, many more people who will never be tested.
- Practicing social distancing and good hygiene and flatten the curve.
- Worrying will not change the outcome but your positive approach will: for you.