This keeps coming back to me as Covid-19 spreads across our nation and we look at what other countries have had to do to control the spread. I am tempted to talk about science and epidomolgy but I’m not a public health scientist or a doctor - I’m a journalist by training - and that makes me a jack of all trades. I know enough to be scared. I’m concerned about what I’m seeing - a lack of organization or awareness.  I feel anxious because I know I can only control so much. Here is what I am doing now: *Looking at only a select few, non-inflamatory, news sources.  See Learn to Discern in Season 1 for more on that.  *Come back to the present moment and be thankful for 3 things in that very moment.  *Being grateful is the remedy for a scarcity mindset - nobody is making good decisions when they panic.*Trying to remember that other people’s actions and behavior is a symptom of their own issues - and I honestly can’t do anything to help them other than show leadership and courage in my own actions and behavior.
This whole thing has come at a weird time for me.  I love being socially and had actually taken a break over the winter months - and now this happens.  I actually wrote a family statement to decline social events:  That is so kind of you to ask! In order for a quarantine to be effective we must all practice it.  This will allow our public health officials and medical doctors/nurses to take care of the upcoming surge of serious cases. Looking at what's happened in other countries (and the lack of organization and acknowledgement on the forefront here) many of us are carrying Corvid-19 and passing it on unknowingly.  We've made a decision to keep to ourselves to allow the spread to slow down some.” 
Trying to fully understand what’s happening is like taking a picture of a fast moving river and saying “this is the river.”  The river is changing every second.  Have grace and compassion for the people who work in public health as they try to work with private businesses, government (which has failed on a national level) and schools.  Have grace and compassion with those who aren’t taking this seriously.  Have grace and compassion for yourself because most of us having never dealt with anything like this.  I feel really called to say and remind everyone that all of us are strong and resilient people.   We will be inconvenienced for months possibly.  We may not have the certainity we want and crave.  We will have to be mindful with our resources and grateful for everything we have.  We can all show true leadership to our communities by preparing and taking steps now.  If nothing else remember that you are strong and you can persevere.  I don’t mean in just recovering from this virus - I mean in all the things you may experience in the coming months.  Be comfortable being uncomfortable.  You are here because your ancestors faced and overcame adversity.  Soldier on - we’re all in it together.
Helpful tips for all of us, not just kids:
https://www.additudemag.com/explain-coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-adhd-child/?utm_source=eletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=parent_march_2

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www.charukumarhia.com

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