Gut Check

I almost got on a plane to Vegas on Thursday. I sat on my bag in the ticketing lobby at O’Hare for over an hour weighing my options. At the last minute to check my bag, I decided to walk out of the airport terminal doors and head back home. One hour later my conference was cancelled, five hours later all domestic air travel for business was restricted at my company, and 24 hours later Vegas shut down its nightclubs and gathering spaces.

I knew in my gut that I wasn’t supposed to get on that plane; just like I knew in my gut that I had to unpack my storage container yesterday (I am currently deep cleaning everything due to mold). There is something inherently in our bodies that tells us how we need to react and sometimes that doesn’t happen until last minute. Right now, there’s something in my gut that’s telling me I need to share these thoughts with you. This is not what I planned on writing this week, but I’m hoping it sparks some good conversation and offers a different perspective to the trending COVID-19 discussion.

It feels like life is in fast forward with how many developments have surfaced by business updates, federal updates, state updates, etc. I have been checking my social media a lot more than normal and it’s really rough to read and internalize the gravity of our global situation. While I’m not outwardly an empath, I feel deeply distraught for the people that feel the brunt of this impact.

In times like these, we really see the privilege that each of us holds. I fully acknowledge that my situation is far better than many around me, so I want to share my perspective on the pandemic from a more compassionate viewpoint than I have been seeing on my social feeds lately. What’s important is the conversation our community needs to have around these things at this time, so I would love the contribution of your perspective here. Here are some not-so-obvious comforts and what you can do to help those without them during the extreme actions taken to mitigate the spread of this pandemic:

Working from home

While I am extremely blessed to work for a global company that has the ability to offer WFH, I am also acutely aware that many do not have this option. There are essential functions of our society that cannot be done from the comfort of their own home. Healthcare, first responders, and state and federal government workers are all at the front line of this pandemic. They are still required to leave their homes each day to make sure people are cared for, emergencies are handled, and we still have drinkable water.

For those that cannot work from home, we have the responsibility to support these individuals as much as we possibly can. This means allowing them to use the face masks recommended by the CDC for their jobs, leaving hand soap and sanitizer on the shelves for purchase, and for the love of god keeping the “I’m healthy, I don’t care if I get it” narrative out of your mind. For each person that is infected, 2-3 more people are likely to come into contact with it (haven’t you played the Plague Incorporated game?).

Receiving a paycheck

This might seem like a foreign concept to some people, but many individuals do not get paid if they do not go into work – even if their place of employment is shutdown by the government. I have many friends in the service and entertainment industry. They receive a majority of their pay through tips on their scheduled shifts or after they perform at their scheduled gigs. With restaurants closed and most theaters/studios doing the same, these individuals have had their source of income ripped from them virtually overnight.

For those of us that continue to receive a paycheck, this is the time to take the money you would have spent going out to eat or attending a show and show your support to those who need it. I am clearly not spending money in gas commuting to work each day, so I’m making it a point to contribute as much as I can to those of my friends who are affected. Our performers are getting so creative with their digital adaptations of their shows with Venmo and PayPal accounts easy for you to access to tip your performers. Bored one of these evenings? Instead of watching Netflix, see if there is a local live show that went digital (Newport Theater Chicago link here). Send them tips and support your community.

Remote Schooling and Childcare

While I myself am not a parent, I am in that age bracket where many of my friends have small children. Some of these small children go to school or daycare while parents are at work. With the combination of work from home and remote schooling or school closure, there are bound to be some difficulties adjusting. My sister is a college senior and all of her classes have officially been moved to online for the remainder of the semester (graduation ceremony currently still pending). There are now three of us, my dad, my sister, and I that will all be working from home. I would consider the situation of internet bandwidth miniscule in comparison to issues like: scarcity of devices for online learning, getting your child(ren) to focus on eLearning, staying effective during your WFH job, finding childcare if you cannot WFH, feeding an extra (if not multiple extra) mouth(s)… the list goes on.

Having children during a pandemic like this is not something that most parents have experienced before. It is our responsibility to make sure that we give those parents the flexibility needed to keep their household from falling apart. As a colleague, we need to be fully understanding if they can’t meet during a certain time or need to step away from a meeting to care for their kids. As friends, we might be able to offer up playdates (so long as all are healthy) to let parents attend to their job. Many of us also have more devices than we know what to do with. If we’re not using them and won’t miss them, can we donate them to those who need them during this time?

What else do you think our community can be doing to help those who need our support at this critical time? I’d love to hear suggestions to increase the positive press around a rather dire time in history. How are you contributing? How can we help you? What is something small we can all consider to think about this more holistically for all that are involved?

What we need right now is selflessness. How are you committed to helping?