Choose Wisely

The entire world has been in lock-down for the last 4-7wks from a virus we started out knowing virtually nothing about. I think our understanding as a whole as improved and yet we still really don't know anything about it. Depending on which side of the fence you are on will determine who you blame and what you believe. I have literally watched a press conference and then read the follow-up article and the two have not matched. Everyone wants to spin it their own way. I think the only thing we can all agree on, well except for China, is that is came from China. So we have all been "self-isolating" or have been in quarantine in our homes. Not really a true isolation or quarantine as we can leave if need be for things like groceries, exercise and vet visits with our pets. And if you do leave, someone is going to have an opinion on the importance of your trip - of course just speculation as they really don't know because they didn't ask - or your need for a mask and gloves and yet they themselves don't actually use them properly. In 6-12 months, I believe the bankruptcies filed will hit an all-time high from businesses not reopening, leading to the unemployed staying unemployed. In Florida, we have already broken the unemployment website as it was not built for such a surge of requests, especially not on the same day. Last week the local beaches here in Jacksonville opened with limited hours and restrictions. And I discovered something....more like something I already knew was reinforced. The same people that said to shut the state down are the ones that are complaining because we are still closed. The ones that wanted to beaches opened are they same ones that are saying they were opened too soon. There are people you are just not going to make happy. There are those that will always have to have something to complain about because that is who they are, that is their normal. When all is said and done and businesses have reopened and Air B&B can start renting to out of state guests; when we get back to "normal", what will it look like? Will it really be just as we left it? Will there all of a sudden be no masks, no social distancing, concerts of 1000+ people knocking into each other? Or will there be a new normal? Will there still be people who choose to wear a mask, refusing to fist bump and definitely, definitely no hugs. Will people go back to not spending time with their families because of a meeting or a rough day at the office or they have peopled enough today? Will we go back to fathers expecting the mothers to go to work and do all the things at home that need to be done, all while making sure there is a hot meal to eat when he gets home? Or will we be nicer, kinder, more understanding? Will we share and still check in on our elderly neighbors? Will we continue to have family game night and go on bike rides and walks with the kids? This is a choice we all get to make. We get to individually decide how we choose to come out of this time of sequestering. We can choose to forget what we have learned and the time we have had with our families and act like this was just an interruption in our regularly scheduled program. Or we can choose to embrace the changes, enjoy our families, be nice to the grandma that is not even aware you are waiting for her to pick her cereal. It is your choice. Choose Wisely.