“If I hear the term corona-fatigue one more time I’m going to scream.”

That’s what one of our nephews said the other day. Our discussion was about how we’ll never get control of the virus if people are not willing to power through their frustration and do the right thing. For themselves AND for others.

We get it.

We seem to be selfish people. We want what we want: “I’m going to do what’s best for ME.”  Trouble is, in a pandemic, it doesn’t stop with ME. It spreads when people are only self-focused.

Our part of the San Francisco Bay area shut down early–our entire state did–in late summer I decided to go to western NY to finish our second home. Numbers were better there and life was more “normal.” I loved every minute of a more interactive life–being out, about and social. Then our numbers here in the Rochester, NY area, started spiking. That’s because not only were places like gyms and restaurants open, but parties and small gatherings were happening. People masked in public but not in these get-togethers.

We simply disregarded the dangers of asymptomatic transmission. And now, we’ve got an even bigger problem on our hands.

All around me people resist going back into isolation, lamenting what will happen to small businesses and restaurants. I get it. People will suffer. (The government needs to provide some relief, but that is a different subject.) And then there are those who simply MUST have a holiday gathering. They just MUST.

And yet, how many will really suffer if they get sick? How many will die? What is our obligation to do the right thing? To ourselves AND others? I know what my response to that question is.

corona-fatigueThese aren’t easy questions. This month we had three very small dinners planned: with one person, two people. And the holiday dinner. Should we keep those plans or not? We’ve gone back and forth.

We know that the right thing to do is draw back in. We know our doctor wants us to. And yet it IS hard, hard to give up the little bit of social life we have had since this hit in February. And yet, we knew we had to.

So we did. We cancelled.

We cancelled to protect ourselves. And we cancelled because we do believe we are our brother and sister’s keepers and we do understand that asymptomatic transmission is very real.

It’s called “deferred gratification” –the ability to put off our own feel-goods for something greater. It is a sign of maturity. And while there are times when I don’t feel so mature, and yes, I do have corona fatigue… THIS I can do. I can defer my gratification for the greater good. And, of course, to protect myself and my husband.

I am pretty judgey about this, too. Because YOUR rights end when you put ME at risk. Or others.

Where do you stand on this?

 

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