A week ago, I was bragging about barely surviving Spinning class. Today, I am working from home, watching incredulously as people mindlessly hoard toilet paper and wrestle each other to the ground for hand sanitizer.
Here’s my thing: why weren’t people washing their hands, disinfecting, and cleaning before now? Why does it take the impending doom of a malevolent virus to nudge people to do things they should have been doing all along? I see people tearing stores apart to sniff out the last bottle of Clorox wipes or hand soap, and I really have to wonder, why weren’t you already using those? Cleaning products and hand soap should not be foreign objects in your home, people. Now go wash your hands.
At first I was very resistant to working from home. All my files are at work, and I didn’t want to drag a bunch of crap home. And, admittedly, I am not a fan of change unless I am the one orchestrating it. But so far it’s been kind of nice. I can sleep in a lot later, since my commute has been reduced to walking across the house, and a later alarm means more snuggle time with my husband (and my jealous cat).
It also means I have zero excuses this week. I can work out during lunch, before work, or at random times during the work day. Who’s going to stop me, the work-at-home Gestapo?
Yesterday I walked my stepson’s dog 327 times. Okay, maybe it was only two or three times, but it felt like a lot. Today I will do a real workout, though, you know, actually follow along to a certified instructor on a DVD, or hit the gym, if it’s open.
It’s sad to me to see so many people hell-bent on making an already bad situation even worse. It’s not bad enough there’s a virus to contend with. People have to make it worse with drama, panic buying, hoarding, selfishness, instead of showing any concern or compassion for the people around them, sharing this planet. This happens with every crisis, from hurricanes to illnesses. True colors come out loud and clear, and more often than not, they are far from pretty.
So be different. Be better. If you have extra hand soap, offer some to your neighbor. Check in with elderly friends, relatives, and neighbors. Don’t buy more than you need. Leave some for others who also need it. If you have more than enough, share.
Be informed, be logical, be prepared, be safe, and be a good person.