Courtesy of COVID-19, we are in a constant state of learning and adapting to new information. It’s safe to say that not much is going according to plan at the moment. Given how the days just mesh into each other, if somebody asks me what day it is, I tend to respond with “Blursday…” 🤷🏻♀️
In this constant state of flux, most of us are attempting to prioritize needs over wants. Complete the work project, over binge-watching a television series. Pay rent, over buying a giant flat screen television. Shop for necessary grocery items, over traipsing all over town for some exotic ingredients. Not everyone has the same scale for needs and wants, but everyone is hopefully aware of an ongoing pandemic.
However, it appears that awareness of a global pandemic seems to have missed those who are still ranting about the “hustle,” and how we need to capitalize on the pandemic. 🤦🏻♀️ I’ve tried to be patient with people, and treat them with kindness, but it’s hard to do that sometimes. Especially when it’s for a non-essential item, and they decide to unleash a torrent of complaining and mansplaining, because you’re not doing it the way they would, or to their exacting standards.
The work will get done, but don’t lay into someone because they decided to get their ducks in a row in order of quack-quack jokes rather than size! We need to cut each other some slack, because we’re all not only dealing with a heckin’ pandemic, but also its painful aftermath and the accompanying mental weariness. Treat each other with kindness and patience — you never know what kind of battles people are fighting right now.
Almost everybody is dealing with some degree of stress, whether it’s related to physical health, mental health, emotional wellbeing, financial impact, family issues, or all of the above. Many of these people are putting on, or having to put on a brave front, for their loved ones or themselves, all while their whole worlds are collapsing around them. So, if somebody greets you with a smile, that doesn’t mean they’re okay. It doesn’t give you permission to double down on their already existing mountain of stress. People’s time and emotional bandwidth are limited and precious, and especially if it’s a non-essential item, just back off instead of adding to their to-do list. Because they may very well not be okay.
If somebody seems okay, ask them how are they doing, and then listen. That may be the kindest thing you could do.
Image by Caleb Gregory