So my parents, who are both in their 60s, have told me that they haven’t seen anything like “this” in their lifetime...
SARS, Bird flu, nothing. So I get to tell my children I lived through a pandemic that hasn’t been seen in many many decades. But I also get to tell and show them a lot of other amazing things. I’ll get to show them videos of people under quarantine in Italy, singing and playing instruments for each other, applauding health care workers, and conducting work out classes from their balconies and rooftops. I’ll get to show them healthcare workers in China riding miles on horseback to the countries most remote regions to warn people about coronavirus and provide treatment. I’ll get to show them how much pride people at “menial” jobs take in their work, like garbage men, grocery store cashiers, shelf stockers, food workers, delivery people, etc. I’ll get to show them how professionals are taking to social media as much as possible to warn us about new developments and how we can protect ourselves. I’ll get to show them how all these people in self-quaratine are doing what they can to make others laugh and experience joy. I”ll get to show them how neighbors who rarely spoke to each other reach out and offer help with groceries. I’ll show them how the world is coping through memes that make each other laugh. I’ll get to show them how some people in financially privileged positions are giving money to sustain people they have never even met.
I’ll get to show them how people are going above and beyond to help each other.
I’ll get to show them how humanity strives to sustain kindness in the smallest of ways.