Remember back in July, when we had no COVID cases and thought we had beaten this thing? We observed the rest of the world with some disdain, clearly they weren’t as good at this as we were. Ha. I’m guessing we needed some humility.

It’s a very frightening time right now, in Manitoba and in the rest of the northern hemisphere as winter comes on and respiratory virus season hits us with a vengeance. Every crack in our defences is gaping wide, and everything that’s wrong with how we treat our most vulnerable, whether they are our elders or our addicts, is being unmercifully exposed. We are done being smug.

Still, it isn’t necessary to crawl into a black hole and pull the covers over your head. There are things we can do to keep ourselves and others safe – wash your hands, wear a mask in public spaces, stay home as much as possible, keep your distance. Treat grocery workers and other essentials with respect and gratitude, and make their lives as easy as you can. Buy local and support your community. 

This is also a time for self-care. Try to make sure you and your family are eating well and sleeping well, and donate as much as you can to institutions that help others do the same. Get out in the sunshine and the fresh air as much as reasonably possible. Move your body every day. Turn off the darned media. Spend a maximum of 30 minutes a day finding out what you need to know, and stop doomscrolling.

Remember that your happiness is determined inside your head, and nowhere else. Do something that makes you happy every day, and try to avoid spiralling into “what ifs”. We were never really in control of our own lives, but having the illusion destroyed so brutally can be painful. It’s a good time to be kind, to yourself and others. It’s a traumatic time for everyone. Just hold on to each other from a safe distance, and do what you can to make the world a better place. 

Remember that old parenting adage – this, too, shall pass. It passed in 1918, and it will pass now. Let’s just do our best to protect the vulnerable in the meantime. It’s the only power we have, so let’s use it.