Today, I am doing my best version of “Social Distancing,” due to COVID-19.
Getting my Sunday therapy session in the woods. Sunshine. Fresh air. Peace and quiet. Beasties. It’s all I need to get me through another week for my 14 days of self isolation.
It feels like all the relaxing and rejuvenating I did in Bali for 4 weeks has already unraveled and melted away this past week, with the craziness that’s going on around the world, and in my local community.
I sure am glad to be home, considering the current state of air travel and borders closing and the insane costs of changing flights, etc.
The mass stockpiling of supplies is not something I expected to see when I got home, especially after spending a month in a country where most people are barely getting by, earning the equivalent of just $300cad/month.
I had a bit of culture shock coming home to people lining up before stores even open to literally run and almost trample each other to buy up toilet paper, hand sanitizer and food like it’s some kind of apocalyptic event. (I still don’t understand the toilet paper part…)
I mean, I get it, to a certain extent, but at the same time, not EVERYONE is being quarantined. If you’re not sick, you don’t need a 2-4 week food supply. The stores will remain open, and the supply chain will continue to operate. You can still have stuff delivered right to your door.
Everything that’s going on around us, for the most part, is precautionary to work toward flattening the curve and avoiding a potential outbreak. We are not at a point where we are all going to inevitably get sick to the point of requiring critical care if we run out of toilet paper. Just sayin.
PLEASE be conscious of others when you are loading your shopping carts. Buy only what you need just like you would for a regular shopping day. Everyone out there needs their weekly food supply.
Think of your parents or grandparents or elderly friends who may be on a fixed income and are only able to grocery shop a few times per month and are only able to purchase what they need. Imagine them going to the store to find empty shelves when their cupboards at home are bare as well because they don’t have the means buy in bulk.
Social distancing is suddenly a thing, but being socially conscious and caring about others, and taking care of others is ALWAYS a thing.
Think of this whole mess as a test of our humanity and social conscience. Selfishly stock piling is not the answer. Taking care of each other and making sure we all have what we need is.