Understanding & sacrifice

I sat down to write a Facebook post about how this might be a good time for 'trickle down' economics to be practiced. You know, calling on those who 'have' to pitch in and help those who are struggling financially through the COVID-19 pandemic. While it is/would be helpful always... I admit I was also snarking a bit at the 1% wealthiest of the wealthy.

Fortunately I had a moment to reflect. On second thought, it very well could take all of US to make it through this ordeal. By "us" I mean, literally, everyone: the rich and poor, young and old, high-paid, low-paid... every single one of us regardless of race, sex, status and party affiliation.

There is another "us" too though. Understanding and Sacrifice.

We need to be people of understanding. All of us. We need to try our best to understand what exactly is going on here - not just for myself, or my family, but for everyone everywhere. How does this disease work, what is needed, what is the best way to work forward, and... understand that none of us have ever done this before!

We need to understand that everyone has their own way of processing information and emotions, and will rely on different coping mechanisms. Some people will be freaking out, some will mock those over-reacting, some will seek isolation, and there are always those who will rebel. We will need a lot of love and compassion.

As to my initial thought, it will help us to understand that this isn't something "those people" need to do something about. It will require us to ALL pitch in and play our part. Understanding the need for social distancing, as well as the need to love our neighbors (appropriately, of course).

We will all need to make sacrifices. Companies will be forced to make difficult decisions, and will hopefully be able and willing to sacrifice the "bottom line" in light of real-world difficulties people are facing.

Employees will need to make sacrifices, because the honest truth is, there isn't just this bank of money out there that can meet all our needs so we can sit home and watch Netflix for a month. We may need to cut back, let a paycheck slide, and alter our way of life.

It's easy now to say we can forego public places, but for a lot of people it will be a sacrifice to NOT go to church, NOT go out to eat, NOT run to the store or the bar or Starbucks. Remember, it's not just about you, or me. It's about us.

And, God forbid, at some point these sacrifices may hit even deeper. I already know of spouses who can't visit their loved ones in nursing homes and hospitals. That's tough stuff. Hopefully we won't have to be involved in sacrificing a life-saving procedure because of limited space and supplies, and someone else needs it more.

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I could go on, but it's really all just speculation at this point. I don't know that anyone fully knows what to expect. But I am pretty sure that, regardless of what happens, we are going to need understanding & sacrifice... BY all of us, and FOR all of us.

We're all in this together, folks. There is no longer a "them" to provide a fix. It might just be up to... us.

Peace out; and in.