We need to be in recovery and reconstruction mode. We will come out of this different. It will be up to each of us if we want to make it better. It certainly can be better, even as painful as it has been to watch our friends and families suffer and businesses close, in some cases. I’ll share some resources at the end that can move us toward recovery and reconstruction.
There have been a number of organizations at the local, state and federal level that have proposed formulas for how we should come out of this. Everyone’s intentions are for the best regarding our health, safety and the economy. Everyone has a right to their opinion. Nobody has THE answer because we don’t know where the next turn will take us. We do need to have a constructive conversation and take the best from each.
I firmly believe that the one size fits all mentality will not work. What I mean by that is what is right for Milwaukee isn’t necessarily right for Rosholt. What is right for Madison isn’t right for Junction City. Finding the balance in all of that is the challenging part. I also respect the fact that we can’t just flip a switch and we will go back to whatever is normal.
I don’t buy the “new normal” mantra that we are hearing. From my vantage point, we have a new normal every minute, hour, day, week, month and year throughout our lives. Along the way we all have different challenges and sometimes they are related to health and sometimes other barriers get in our way. Some are simple puddles to hop over and some are concrete barriers we must figure out how to get through, around and/or over.
I struggle with this pandemic being called unprecedented. The disease is definitely new and challenging, however there have been other pandemics in our history, but maybe not in our lifetime. According to the Centers for Disease Control website, the 1918 influenza pandemic was the most severe pandemic in recent history. It spread worldwide during 1918-1919. In the United States, it was first identified in military personnel in spring 1918. It is estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world’s population became infected with this virus. The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States. There have been other more recent worldwide health challenges as well. The reason I bring this up at all is to say we can get through this—together.
The real question then is how will each business be prepared for recovery and reconstruction. There are a lot of resources out there for businesses. We will all be challenged mentally by how we respond to each other in the work place and grocery store and park and the first large scale gathering. Challenges include the use of masks, taking people’s temperature, sanitizing spaces, and barriers for safety (which we have already seen).
I know through all of this is that I need people. Work at home is convenient but not what I want with my life. #saferathome has helped me grow in a different way but the lack of interaction (nothing wrong with my family, by they way) has been daunting. Let’s focus on recovery and reconstruction.
I guess I just need a hug! For that, one size does fit all!!