I just want, need to expand on a comment I wrote earlier today on Facebook… then I’m done.
“It’s at the point where subtlety and politeness are redundant. From a few conversations I’ve had and things I’ve seen with my own eyes, there are some people who will not accept the message. Causing me more anxiety than anything else. I take heart in the people I know who are taking Covid-19 very seriously and doing the right thing.”
Think about the fortnight that has just passed, where did you go, who did you see, who/what did you come in contact with? Write a list. Who/what did they come in contact with? That, you’ll probably never know. In all likelihood it’s more than you thought. It was ok, then, most likely. But very quickly it’s becoming less and less ok. Imagine if you get sick or someone, somewhere you have had contact with gets sick. Think about the people on your list. Think about the people on their list.
Most of us are doing our very best with changing our thinking and behaviours. We go out less; only for food and essential appointments. We keep our distance physically, our hygiene habits that were sufficient are now bordering on obsessive.
#covid19 isn’t just about people who have been overseas, on a cruise, essential services and health workers at risk… It’s about every single one of us, regardless of whether we live in cities or rural areas, in Australia or overseas. If the virus comes into contact with us, we are equally at risk of being infected ourselves and/or infecting someone else. The only thing that offers hope is that by our individual actions, we can lessen the risk and the spread by each being personally accountable for ourselves to every other person whether we know them or not. Don’t discount what we are being told by the government and don’t wait to be told by the government. Act now.
That hope that #covid19 might not affect me, or my family or my friends or their family and friends is of comfort to me, but it doesn’t stop me being concerned about people I don’t know, every new case, every death and loss to their family and loved ones, every new story… the body bags, the possibility of Do Not Resuscitate orders… You might say stop reading, stay off Facebook, don’t watch or listen to the news. But I want to know. That’s my other responsibility to myself, to know, to live in this current reality. It’s not what makes me anxious. Lack of awareness and/or carelessness does that. Please, please don’t think coronavirus isn’t about you.
I want for us all to come out the other side of #covid19 together. If I have been too plain spoken… or insensitive which despite my best efforts it happens, then if someone is offended but alive and their loved ones and me and mine are alive afterwards, I can cope with that. But I hope that they’ll understand the best of my intentions.
I know that social media doesn’t reach everyone but please share this message using my words or your own via social media, Facetime/Skype, telephone, over the fence or across the street at a safe distance. Take care of each other.
#wecandothistogetherbutapart
daleleelife101.blog 
Trenchant, but true. Also, #itsnotjustaboutyou. People WILL not stay a decent distance away in the supermarket. We voted this morning, in rainy north Queensland. At times I had to use my umbrella to keep people far away enough in the queue. Why won’t they take it seriously? I’m afraid I’m not quite done talking about it on my blog, but I’m trying to balance it with happier stuff too. There are many positives to sheltering in place (a nicer way to put it, I feel). One of them is that I’m looking at resuscitating all sorts of old projects 🙂 Stay safe and well, both of you. Talk soon.
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The #covid19 conversation will remain current and relevant until people stop dying, however staying quiet about the carelessness I see has cost me much peace-of-mind… I need to be able to sleep and study and enjoy my quiet life. There are too many contradictions and not good enough. But ’tis said. Better out than in as they say. The mental image of your and your umbrella has very much made my day 😀 Up there with the G.O.’s politest but no-nonsense demeanor in the checkout line when doing his mum’s shopping in the supermarket.
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Contrary to what’s being shown on the news, I found it was the old(er) people who were getting too close in the queue. Long-held habits are harder to break… I think your venting was important; unless we all express disapproval of antisocial behaviour, it’ll go on indefinitely. I think my umbrella got my opinion across… 😉
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Dale – I DO hope this is not the last time we all are able to logically read about the life we have no option but lead in the here’and’now. You make utter sense as always . . . we should keep in contact . . . share what happens whether we so desire or not . . .I do not vote Liberal but am hugely happy to have Gladys Berejiklian at the helm. Have just finished listening her daily or twice-daily report and feel steadier for it. Like for the baby bear . . .the porridge is neither too hot nor to cold, just sensible for the today we cannot help but have. Methinks our measures in the state have been as fair as they could be. Looking at our death toll they are bearing fruit. Let us pray . . .In our case, most of the disease has been brought in by plane and cruise boat . . . I think it great that 5000 beds in Sydney hotels + food have been made available for a 14-day quarantine sans cost ! Did not realise 3500-5000 still landing at the airport daily !!! Can understand the dichotomy in the ‘open school’ rulings but cannot quire manage that the Qld local elections were not postponed and people are threatened with a fine if they do not comply ! believe in the voting system . . . not ion the present observance of it. As I do not drive personally but live semi-rurally logistical matters are becoming difficult . . .hopefully that too will pass . . . best . . .
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Some of the government actions I don’t exactly understand or necessarily agree (from my perspective/knowledge) but on the whole and for the most I believe responsibility has been shouldered as it should be by our leaders, and by each of us. I needed to get the words I wrote out of my head, and my heart, so I can focus on my best social-distancing efforts. Take care. Be well.
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Hi Dale. Yes, yes, yes. I have been trying to convince my sister who has a very sick husband to stay at home and she just doesn’t get it. Her daughter is still taking her kids to the park arghhh! I think this is the first time in a lot of peoples’ lives they have had to think of others in the society and not just themselves and their close associates. They will catch on, but in the mean time, the numbers are going through the roof. At the end of this I hope we, as a society, understand we are all better off as individuals if we take all our society with us. Equal societies are heathier, happier etc than unequal societies.
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I think we all could identify people who haven’t quite yet grasped the seriousness of the situation and the need for personal responsibility. You make a good observation, many aren’t accustomed to community-thinking. The human cost of coronavirus, I fear, will be high. But I hope some good re-thinking will come of the shake-up that accompanies it.
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I think for something to really sink in and be serious about, it takes getting somewhat close to or having a connection to see the reality in the situation. Forrest and I have been positive, and have followed the rules set forth by our government and local officials. But last week when we learned a person at Forrest’s employment had come down with COVID-19, which attacked after a long bout with either allergies or a cold, we became very serious about every aspect of our lifestyle. When one thinks about the contact with others, surfaces we touch, and what we casually do on a day to day basis, then the number of days that go by before we even know about someone we work with contracting the virus, it’s slap-in-the-face reality. I think it is very important to move forth with a positive outlook and with perseverance, and not become fearful. I like that this virus causes us to be more observant and be more “community-thinking” as you said. And lastly, I do believe we get every experience we are supposed to have in this life. It’s not just about us as individuals. There is much to learn as a population.
I felt good reading your post this morning. Your calm delivery and broad sense of observation is something I appreciate.
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Thank you for the kind words. A friend called it imaginative empathy… or lack thereof. For the most of us, we have responded responsibly and suitably as it’s unfolded. Pretty much everyone I know is up-to-speed now but there’s always a few, late adapters, who drag the chain. There have been upsides so far, more support of local growers, hotels and gambling venues closed… families spending more time together; what has created pressures in one sense has alleviated others. Many people have expressed a sense of relief at having been made to slow down, which I guess in normal times isn’t always an easy choice. Wishing you and yours continued wellness ♡
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Wishing you the same. It’s been lovely to see families riding bikes down the street. We had a friend ask us to allow his three children to hike around in our orchard area. It’s a great time to get out, taking in the evolution of spring!
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Your words are so important at the moment Dale…and I understand how you need to get them out of your head.
Libby Gore (774 radio presenter) said that we have to act as if we have the virus. If we pretend we have it then we know we have to isolate, be observe about hygiene, not spread it to anyone else.
I too despair at the behaviour of some. My aunt and uncle, both in their 90s, and presumably intelligent people, are still going out for their daily coffee, using public transport, going to the supermarket for little odds and ends. They get supermarket food delivered through the council, but can’t see that they should not be picking up these other things.
I too loved the idea of Kate enforcing the distance with her umbrella! That’s really making the point!
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I read about Libby Gore’s advice, made sense to me. Pretty much what we’ve been doing but without the PPE. We listen to our local ABC radio Coffs Coast, and through the bushfire and Covid19 they have kept us well informed. Yep, I had an 80+ year old man say to me yesterday “if I die I die”… my response was “don’t take anyone else with you”. So much easier to stay at home, and know we are safe here. And if we all do it… Our social media community has always been a wonderful part of my life but even more appreciated now… our likeminded silo ♡
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I’m trying to balance the anger I feel with stories of ordinary people doing wonderful things, just because it’s the right thing to do, the kind, compassionate thing to do. They are my heroes. The others? …..
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Best to focus on wonderful things. The other, I’ve decided after due consideration and resultant anxiety, is what it is. I’m happy with my choices, that’s all I can do.
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You’re right. I’d probably feel a lot better if I stayed away from Twitter permanently, but every couple of days I’m drawn back. -sigh-
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Hi Dale, Husk here! Good to see you saying all this. Some people just seem totally unable to grasp the logic of all this. Like acflory I have tried to take a little break from Twitter which can be utterly despair-making and when on it am trying to stay close to inspirational people like writers and poets not doom mongers. I take just enough notice of official channels to know what the latest is and that’s it. I was shocked that an old university friend told us she and her sister had been visiting her 90-odd year old mother, via public transport, in London of all places until last weekend! Aaargh! Anyway, over and out for now, keep well, keep safe and keep on being you.
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Covid19 has united us equally and globally… unless you pay heed to the various conspiracy theories, which I don’t, or don’t heed the precautions offered up for the good of all, which I do. Please take care, stay home, stay safe and use any extra time that a hiatus bestows to do wonderful things 🙂
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Thanks Dale for putting pen to paper. I could not have put it better. When you research the Spanish Flu a hundred years ago, you realize many people have not changed for the better. They refused to follow the guide lines then too. My G-Grandparents moved from a seaside town on the south coast because tourists would not stay away from the beaches, even though the police fined them as they came out of the surf. Their retort was that Australia was a ‘free’ country, not a police state. No doubt they just didn’t ‘get it’ then either.
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Including this morning I’ve seen what are obviously tourists driving and looking around our village… and in this case the pub has beer but is constrained by current restrictions, and the park and camping reserve is closed. Interesting that was the take on it then too… I have heard comments made along the lines of “I don’t like being told what to do…” Others don’t appear to be applying reasoning at all, and as was observed by a friend seem to be lacking imaginative empathy… unable to see their part in the scheme of things.
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Thank you! Take care!
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You’re welcome. You as well:)
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This was a must read for me. Particularly well put, forever timely, so off it goes anew to Twitter and FB : )
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Thank you. Ahhh yes, the current debate is how safe is it to lift restrictions-emerge from iso… imo if you need to ask, then it’s not safe enough.
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