I’m scared and anxious also.

I don’t need to repeat the science and statistics. We’ve all pored over the same graphs of flattened curves and Italy death tolls. I listened to that Daily podcast and yes, the Joe Rogan episode as well. I’m also not here to debate you on “what this is really about,” if that infers media exploitation, political manipulation, or corporate greed.

Let’s begin by stating stark facts.

The Coronavirus is a real threat. Much of the population will get sick from Covid 19 and a percentage of those people will die. The best we know how to combat the Coronavirus is washing our hands and social distancing (All this vocabulary none of us knew until a week ago. Now we gnaw on them like chewing sticks).

It’s not like the flu, because we know the flu. It’s not like the last recession because there’s no company to blame and bail out. The reason why this disease and its effects are so much more distressing is because of the uncertainty: a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic compounded by a crashing globalized economy in the age of social connectivity. And by all accounts, we are just beginning this ride into the unknown.

Yes! I’m scared and anxious also!

Kinda how I feel when I’m walking into a haunted house. I would never go into one alone. My imagination is deep and unmanageable as it is (I don’t need a man in a rubber werewolf mask to freak me out) and so the idea of blindly venturing into cobwebbed doorways and twisted corridors is enough to put me in a straitjacket.

But, I do just fine if my friends are with me. In fact, the larger the group is, I feel more in control of the darkness. Like the fear has been distributed. We collectively carry the worries and insecurities and now the passage is not as intimidating.

It’s selfish, but I am thankful that we are embarking on this journey together. To have my friends and family, my community, and billions of people around the world sharing this fear with me. It feels a billion times lighter. And the anxiety, a billion times more tolerable… So, there’s one resource we can use to our advantage: our relationships. This is the time to lean on your brothers and sisters and neighbors. In return, as a good neighbor, now is the time to practice compassion and patience. Let’s listen and not be a jerk on the roads and please support Chinese restaurants you racist assholes. Like the late Michelle McNamara said, “It’s chaos. Be kind.” Well, it’s more chaoser than ever, so be kinder.

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Have you ever had your computer crash on you in the middle of a project? You’ve invested hours into a school report or days into working on a design and you never saved the file. In a dark turn, the cursor freezes and all the information has evaporated. What do you do?

There’s a good five to ten minutes where you’re allowed to panic, scream and cry. You were this close to being done or you were in a solid flow and now you’ve been rudely interrupted. Like choking your piss mid-stream. You don’t want to change course. You were comfortable on your set path and now your plans are derailed.

Eventually, you tighten your big boy/girl pants and get back to work, even if that means starting over. It’s futile to complain; it’s quicker to adapt and learn how to walk again. That’s sort of how I feel today. Outside of contracting or succumbing to the Coronavirus (obviously), perhaps the hardest part about this event is the drastic lifestyle change. So many of us have not only grown accustomed to – but dependent upon – living life on our terms at 1,000 mph. We’re bummed because Coachella is cancelled, our big drop was spoiled, our Europe vacation got pulled. We had a goal to attain, more followers to win, a fat paycheck to pursue. This fucking Coronavirus is so inconvenient!

We are now forced to be still. To stay home with our loved ones, whom we don’t see often enough. We’ll have no choice but to be stuck with ourselves and think. Eat boring foods and be re-acquainted with their simplicity. There will be periods of time where we do nothing but stare at swaths of blue sky. Maybe we will hear something that we can’t discern amongst the noise of our busy lives. Like bright hot stars in the desert’s night.

Unfortunately, many of us will suffer losses on the work front, but this can also be an opportunity to consider our dreams, careers and workplaces differently. This is going to reset a lot of paradigms. And because I’m a hopeful guy, I believe it can be for the better. Perhaps we will all, together, finally prioritize universal healthcare. Perhaps we will value strong national leadership. Maybe some of our divides won’t seem as far apart when we’re faced with a common enemy.

There is some goodness there. A ringing of solidarity in the background of universal fear and concern. Just remember that we are all shouldering that fear with you. Also, be mindful that the fear is not about the virus, but about the uncertainty. And Life has always been a series of mysteries and surprises and black hallways. The universe was never in our control, and clearly not as predictable as we fooled ourselves into believing. So, it turns out, we are used to this and know this quite well.

If this next week of disruptions turns into months and seasons, there is also a beauty and answer in being jarred out of our comfort zones and learning a new life language. It’ll be uncomfortable, painful, and traumatic. But one morning, it will be over and we’ll have transitioned to the next thing. And we’ll hold tight to these enduring stories about the year that changed our lives forever.

And how we did it together.

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