Use Fear as an Opportunity

The Corona Virus has made things very real these past few days. Schools are closed, restaurants can only provide take-out/delivery, and sporting events have been canceled. We are officially in a Pandemic. So, what does that mean for you?

Are you going to panic and run to the grocery store to stockpile staples? Will your hands become raw due to the number of times you are washing them each day now? Are you living in fear of contracting this disease or unwittingly spreading it? Are fear and anxiety swirling around in the pit of your stomach?

I was beginning to panic and I didn’t like how it was making me feel. I decided I needed to view this unprecedented situation as an opportunity to reset my life and be kind to others. How can I (we) do this? We need to allow our fear to spur us into action. We are citizens of the greatest country in the world. We’ve come together during wars, terror attacks, hurricanes, tornados, and many more disasters. Each time, our country came together to help each other and we were all better as a nation for it. I believe it is time for us to step up again and rally together to create unity during this tragedy.

I did some brainstorming this morning and here’s some initial, small-scale ideas I came up with:

Organize A Community Care Group

• Place posts on neighborhood websites mentioning you would like to form a Community Care Group. Offer an easy way for folks to get engaged (possibly a Facebook group). Assuming you get a good response, you can ask for ideas on things they would like to do to help. I’ve detailed some possible options below.
• Get volunteers in your area to check on neighbors to see if they need groceries or medication. If they do, offer to pick them up for them.
• Make a meal chain for people that are in need of a home-cooked meal.
• Since the kids are home from school, why not have them surprise the neighbors and bring in everyone’s garbage pails on the block one day? Or, put them at the curb for everyone on a pick-up day.
• If you have little ones, perhaps they can finger paint or draw a picture that you could put in your elder neighbor’s mailbox to brighten their day.

How about coordinating a book exchange for the block? Someone has to start it by putting a few books in a basket and giving it to their next-door neighbor. The neighbor needs to select a book, donate a book, and repeat. This means no one has to go to the store but everyone on your block can have a “new” book to help them pass the time during this pandemic. Who knows, maybe a neighborhood book club can be formed from this once the pandemic is over.

If you are really brave, have a “Be Like Italy” sing-a-long night. Ask everyone to sit on their sidewalk at a pre-determined time and have a sort of open mike night. Or, distribute patriotic song sheets and invite all to sing God Bless America, and/or America the Beautiful together. You get the picture. There might be some young adults on the block whose high school play or concert was canceled. Perhaps they would volunteer to entertain everyone?

Get creative! Think of what your talents are and how you might use them to interact with your neighbors. Do not complain about being bored and feel sorry for yourself. Stop reading about the virus on the internet. View this period of your life as a time to reset. Go for a walk, get up early and watch a sunrise or go outside and view the sunset. Take a bike ride on a sunny day. Drive to the beach and breathe in the salt air and listen to the waves.

Do you think some of this seems hokey? Maybe it is, but I’d rather be hokey than be in a panic. I’m already tired of the anxiety I’ve been feeling. Y’all know I just hit the big six-o and I’m currently in remission from cancer. While I do not believe I am very high-risk, I’m certainly not in the clear. However, I will not allow my fear to take over and completely isolate me. I am going to channel my fear into action and have some fun.

Of course, the big challenge here will be how to organize these events without having everyone come in close contact with each other. I know it can be done, we just need to figure out the logistics. The best part is, there is no right or wrong here. We will be in uncharted territory. Anything we decide to do will be better than doing nothing.

So, who wants to be first for street-front karaoke? Any takers? Please let me know in the comments below if you will be forming a Community Care Group in your neighborhood. I would be happy to help you get something started. It’s time to be kind! It’s time to take action in your community.

Let’s go!