Soothing My Panic, COVID-19 Edition

For the past week world news has overtopped my mind-wall, and I've been getting more and more anxious. THEN a few things I’ve encountered in the past two days have helped me talk myself down off the ledge and into a spurt of positivism.

I can't know what will happen, so worrying really won't make a difference. I can put that energy into following the social distancing guidelines and supporting my friends.

Positivity Trigger One was my wonderful local bookstore, Room of One’s Own. ( This is how a bookstore becomes a community leader )

Positivity Infusion Two is what’s happening in my town. The struggle between US Federal and state-level governments is always contentious. Right now, Federal leadership has been weak, but my city, county, and state officials took the cue from Anthony Fauci (who has earned public trust through plain speaking on the AIDS epidemic, although I'm sure he made many mistakes along the way). Local leaders are making decisions. They're setting deadlines. Events may push decisions beyond those deadlines, but we can burn that bridge when we come to it!

For example:

Gatherings of 250 or more are cancelled (including places of worship and religious gathering centers)

Our library system has cancelled programming, but is keeping the libraries themselves open because they serve a crucial information function. They are hosting in-person absentee voting ahead of our April 7 primary.

Positivity Capstone Three was an Ask.MetaFilter thread on the question, Any Tips for Dealing with Coronavirus Anxiety? Many good answers there. This comment opened me up to consider how remarkable the response has been.

( 512 words worth reading )

Have you encountered positivity amidst the panic? Share!