When it’s 40 below zero, you don’t step outside wearing shorts, flip flops and a T-shirt. Rather, you prepare yourself appropriately to face the elements. Similarly, during this global pandemic, you and I need to arm ourselves appropriately so that we will be prepared to embrace the challenges that each new day brings. This is preferable to waking up every morning, trembling and fearful to leave the comfort, safety and security of your bed.
Optimism and Hope
Covid-19 is no match for this equally invisible duo. When you fortify your mind with optimism and hope, tempered with reality, in your mind’s eye, you will be facing covid-19 rather than cowering before the dreaded COVID-19.
Pessimism and fear
Pessimism and fear have the opposite impact on your psyche than the aforementioned dynamic duo. These two impostors create a psychological ripple effect that initiates a physiological downward spiral that has a deleterious impact on your immune system. In other words, your thought life renders your body either more susceptible or less vulnerable to that unseen villain, SARS-CoV-2.
In one of the four “Lethal Weapon” films, Detectives Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) come face to face with a growling, teeth baring Rottweiler. Murtaugh, fearful and intimidated, is ready to unleash a bullet from his revolver on the guard dog.
Riggs, on the other hand, without breaking eye contact with the Rottweiler, signals to his partner, Roger, that he needs to lower his gun, which was still aimed directly at the dog (who was simply doing its job). Martin simultaneously holstered his own revolver (or handed it to his partner), got down on all fours, eye level with Mr. Rottweiler, then rotated his head to one side. This was immediately mirrored by the dog. Riggs then rotated his head in the opposite direction. Once again, the dog immediately mirrored Riggs' action.
A few seconds later, Riggs and the now retired guard dog were rolling around on the ground, playing together like old litter mates. Looking his former adversary directly in the eye without flinching, while removing the overt threat of his and his partner’s weapons, Riggs quickly defused a tense situation and converted his adversary into a lifelong ally.
Do not allow your apprehension or fear of covid-19 to bully you into submission.
Now think back to a time in your life when you were bullied. For those of us who quickly nipped the bullying in its infancy, before it could become a "new normal", there was, in my opinion, only one possible remedy. You had to look the bully directly in the eye, at very close range so that he or she could sense that you did not fear them and were willing to do battle with them, if necessary, right then and there.
Now I can hear the murmurs of some; particularly those who are fretful, fearful and pessimistic. I understand that my analogies have major flaws. Your criticisms are valid.
In "Pilgrim's Progress," John Bunyan’s character, Christian, walked through the Valley of the Shadow of Death with great carefulness, during the pitch black of night, "with his sword drawn in his hand, for fear lest he should be assaulted."
At one point in the valley, perhaps similar to where all citizens of earth now find ourselves, he arrived at a place where "the flame and smoke would come out in such abundance, with sparks and hideous noises, (things that cared not for Christian’s sword, as did Apollyon before,) that he was forced to put up his sword, and betake himself to another weapon, called All-prayer."
We cannot look Covid-19 in the eye. Even if we could, it has no fear. This virulent, single minded, microscopic beast is singleminded in its purpose and function. It's "raison d'être" is to find an animal host and replicate itself.
Boldness, Confidence and Determination
When we fortify our minds with boldness, confidence and determination, coupled with the wisdom and common sense to keep a safe distance from other humans who reside outside of our bubble, we give ourselves and, in fact, humanity a fighting chance to survive.
We all need to continually marshal our available resources and implement effective strategies that will still our trembling hearts, quiet our troubled thoughts and give us peace. Our ability (or inability) to step up our game individually, unite with each other to combine our efforts and energy to combat our common foe, covid-19, will shape the future of humanity forever. Staying calm, remaining relaxed and able to function with some level of normalcy is possibly the greatest challenge that faces every man, woman, youth, boy and girl on planet earth on January 1st, 2021.
