Last Christmas, when my husband, daughter and I traveled to my hometown to celebrate with my side of the family, my exuberant great-nephew was youngest of a big intergenerational mix with an age range from 96 all the way to age 3.
Those of us who have been privileged to be in the company of toddlers, know their energy is both exhilarating and exhausting — but in my family, they are also the light that keeps us all shining.
At one point, my great-nephew decided it was a great game to pull all the throw pillows off the couches and put them on the floor. When his father gently reprimanded him, he ignored the suggestion. His father, not wanting to make a scene at great-grandma’s house, kept trying to gently tell him to put the pillows back to no avail.
So I called the little one over, and whispered to him conspiratorially that I wanted to see how fast he could put that pillow over there, back on and quickly come back.
It worked. We turned what could have been a defiant showdown into a silly little game and all the pillows went back on the couches faster than they had come off. With just a touch of redirection, no one had to get upset, or end up crying.
We’re not all toddlers. But redirection, and changing the perspective can change how we navigate the next few months of COVID-19. And make no mistake about it, even if the vaccines were approved today, we’re still six months away from seeing any real production and distribution take place.
Every reputable scientist, doctor, and epidemiologist (not to mention healthcare workers and first responders) have advocated wearing face masks. Why this is still a controversial issue is baffling, but I also understand the human impulse to dig in once you’ve made a stand.
I’ve been watching my favorite television shows return from their extended hiatus, when they were all forced to shut down in the alarming early days of the novel coronavirus. I had wondered how many of them would give at least a passing glance at what is going on in the real world, and although there wasn’t consistent mask-wearing during the scenes, the shows I watch and love all addressed that there is a pandemic, sometimes even covering their faces.
It’s hard to normalize what is an abnormal situation. Nine months in, I still have stepped outside to walk the dog, gotten halfway down the block and realized my face was bare. I always turn back and get a face mask. I keep extras in my pocket, purse, car, everywhere these days.
And I’m probably a bit of a laughingstock for the sheer number and variety of coverings I own and continue to purchase.
But I’ve decided that we can choose one of two paths.
We can decide that this is political, oppressive, and left-wing hysteria. We can rant against authoritarianism, embarrass ourselves with tantrums in public places, and pick fights with vendors, store owners, other citizens and officials, who may or may not have their own issues about masks.
We can refuse to listen to shaming, blaming (both incredibly unhelpful) and take a fatalistic attitude, “if I get it, I get it,” and go on about our lives as if there isn’t a pandemic.
Or we can lean into the inconvenience of putting on a mask that gets uncomfortable in the warm weather (it’s not bad in the cold though), pat ourselves on the back that we’re doing this for ourselves and everyone else (embrace our inner smugness), and hey, make a game of it if you have to.
I’ve started choosing my face coverings by how they fit my wardrobe, and vice versa. One day they will just be memories of My Least Favorite Year, but for now they will be color-coordinated, matching and stylish. I can put my smiley dog face on for walks with my favorite walking buddy, decorate with bling for the holidays, use it as a social justice message board, show my love of butterflies and sunflowers — the choices are endless. Not to mention the money saved on makeup and lipstick.
If you believe the pandemic won’t affect you in any meaningful way, the first path may be for you. If you believe the science and experts who say if everyone wore a mask for two months, cases would drop precipitously, the second road may be the one you want to go down.
Even if you don’t want to be, we’re still all in this together. Yes, we’re all COVID-19 fatigued. But if we change our perspective, we can effect the change we all want.
