These are, to say the least, uncertain times.
New and updated information as a result of the spreading coronavirus is rushing toward us. It feels as though we are drinking from a fire hose.
Our lives are being upended in ways that seemed improbable just a week ago, and we don’t yet know what the full impact of the virus will be.
The familiar patterns that make up the rhythm of our lives no longer apply. The direct impacts and the yet unknown developments create stress and anxiety.
It is definitely not business as usual.
We’re told that China, in one way, has been better equipped to deal with the virus because as an authoritarian state, the government could put vast regions of the country under lockdown. That’s much harder to do in a free country like ours, but we have other advantages.
A free society fosters creativity, entrepreneurship and problem solving. Millions of American citizens, leaders of our institutions, businessmen and women, all have experience in overcoming obstacles.
A few folks will run out and stock up on toilet paper, but the rest will start figuring out how to adjust, what steps to take to keep the virus from spreading, how people can work differently, on and on. Tens of thousands of challenges from the virus will produce an equal number of solutions or accommodations.
That sounds like a lot of work, and it will be, but we have no choice. “Take it seriously and do your part because we can all make a difference,” said Dr. Cathy Slemp, West Virginia State Health Officer.
At some point, there will be a new normal. We will have adjusted to all the disruptions and settled into a new pattern of behavior for as long as it takes. That new normal may still be inconvenient, but at least we’ll have a good idea of what our patterns of behavior should be.
It’s unclear when we will reach that point, but it will come, and then the threat will dissipate.Of course, we don’t know how long that will take. That’s the unknown that is creating much of the anxiety.
But let’s have faith in our ability—as individuals and as a country—to rise to the challenge.
Let’s not just run out and stock up on toilet paper.