Now Is the Time. Tomorrow is Good Too.

Take another deep breath. It will be ok. We're going to beat this thing. We knew it would be a bad week. It's time to get more serious about the social distancing. No really it is. Like seriously. Suck it up for a few weeks. I know it's hard. We're not used to it. Could be worse. Could be raining. Oh wait...
Can I offer a different perspective on the quarantine and social distancing and working from home? Someone asked me the other day how I was doing. I said I haven't been this relaxed in years. I'm not kidding. I have thoroughly enjoyed this week. I have not enjoyed the deaths and the spreading virus. I have not enjoyed the hysteria from one segment of the population or the complete disregard for others from another segment of the population. I have not enjoyed the ridiculous fighting that our government has done and is doing. I have not enjoyed seeing friends be laid off because of all this and struggling.
Here's the thing about all of that. All I can do is control what I do to help slow this virus. I can work from home. I can wash my hands often. I can keep my home clean and sanitize each day. I can practice social distancing. I can have my family do all of those things as well. I can not panic buy. I can support local businesses as much as I can and within reason always keeping in mind the issue of social distancing. I can and am doing those things. I'm doing that because it's the right and responsible thing to do. I can choose not to be afraid of the coronavirus but to be wise about the way I handle things.
The numbers we're seeing can be scary but the CDC warned us this would be a bad week. It will get better. It takes time. Stop listening to every news story that comes out to be honest. You absolutely need to be informed, but there is a tremendous amount of ridiculous and false information out there. I think a lot of it is analyzing where the information is coming from. If it's from CNN they have an obvious and open bias leaning to the left. If it's from Fox News they have an obvious and open bias to the right. Find the truth in each story and critically analyze it before sharing it. Cause holy crap people. Quit being so scared about every piece of information that comes across, but also quit being so flippant about each of our responsibilities. Just stop. If each of us would do what we've been asked to do we would see this thing drop off rapidly.
With all of this I said I haven't been this relaxed in years. I really mean that. The reason is I have time. I haven't had time in a long time. I have time to do the things I really love to do without feeling guilty that I'm not spending enough time with my kids. I've spent all day every day with them and it's freaking amazing. I'm working out twice a day now. I've had time to use my smoker more. I've had time to research new recipes for things I want to try. I've had time.
I fully realize we're all in different situations. I can only speak to my situation. Because there's not much I can do about what is happening in the world other then do my part, I'm choosing not to be scared. I'm choosing to take this time that's been given and improve myself and my family.
Maybe there's a hobby that you used to do and you just don't have time for it anymore. Start it again. Discover the love for it again. Maybe there is something you've always wanted to get into and just haven't had the time. Now is the time because you have time. Maybe you've always wanted to really get into exercising. Now is the time. It would be a shame to not take this time to improve ourselves. It really would. With limited access we might need to get creative with what we do. That's OK. Do it anyway. Figure out what it is you have always wanted to do but felt you were too busy and start. You've got to be home anyway. You can be at home bored and miserable or you can figure out how to use the time effectively. You can come away from this a better person or more jaded.
That's all I'm saying. Redefine what this time means for you. Do what you can to help others and do your part. We'll get through this. The time will pass either way. It can pass with us as a better person, or it can pass with us the same. The choice is yours.
The girls started exercising every morning. Some mornings they do yoga. This morning we found old episodes of Mickey Mousekercize on YouTube and the girls absolutely loved it. They did it for like 20 minutes and wanted to keep it up. Those kids amaze me. We had all these plans for this time of year. Priya's birthday party, Lagoon opening, and Disneyworld next month. All of those things aren't happening right now but they never complain. They're just happy to be here. I'm trying to be more like them. Deal with the large problems and the small conveniences and just live.
This week on Snooty and Slackjaw we did an episode on take out places. Please go listen and patronize some of these places. I went to R&R BBQ today. They have a great drive through system available and they were extremely grateful. Go check out the episode and go to one of those places this weekend. Hopefully we'll get the LLC approved so we can start the ice cream company. What better way to be quarantined then with some excellent ice cream?