GIFT # 3 What does "crazy" look like during a pandemic?

So April 1st has passed and this Covid-19 is not an April Fool's joke. The cases are rising all over the world, especially here in North America. The last three weeks has been a very interesting look at human behaviour in the face of the advancement of this virus. The social science researchers must be having a field day!

Most fascinating to me is observing how some leaders of the world react to this new enemy versus how many regular citizens react.

1. A certain world leader in Europe has taken the opportunity to use "the right to rule indefinitely by decree nominally in the name of combating the virus" to instead fast track a construction project objected by the opposition and to announce a bill to classify his country's most expensive infrastructure project etc. Is this what crazy for power looks like? Disgraceful!

2. Another European leader has banned the use of the word, "Coronavirus". Wow. If we don't say its name, it doesn't exist? Seriously?

3. And then, there's this one leader who is hoarding protective equipment like masks etc, and in fact ordering one of the manufacturing companies in his country to stop exporting to neighbouring Canada and Latin America. Why? As per his press conference, he said and I quote, "We need the masks. We don't want other people getting 'em." Gobsmacked. Just wow. RIght. In times of adversity, let's burn bridges and build walls. Especially with our closest and oldest friend. Is this what crazy looks like?

4. Same leader speculating (without any medical knowledge of his own, despite his claims to being of genius level IQ), about the potential of a certain malaria pill to counter the virus...and in fact, as of his last press conference actually stating that he might start taking the medication himself for protection. FACEPALM!!! Thanks to this kind of leadership, people with specific autoimmune disease will now have less access to the medicine they need because fearful people with means are going to listen to a fearful leader and run (not walk) to get a medication that has not been proven widely to be effective against this "NOVEL" (this means new) virus.

5. On the other side of things, at least two European leaders have brought in Covid-19 patients from Italy into their own countries to treat them. Oh. My. Gosh. Did you catch that? They are "importing" Covid-19 patients. To treat them. What craziness is this? One has an amazing Medivac plane. Check out the sweet aircraft and heroic staff here - https://www.news18.com/photogallery/world/inside-flying-hospital-that-airlifted-covid-19-patients-safely-out-of-italy-2556713-10.html

6. Bravo to the many companies out there re-purposing their manufacturing divisions to now produce safety equipment for frontline workers. From hockey greats like Bauer, to simulator builders like CAE to family enterprises like Bourassa Doors in Canada, I salute you. This is what crazy amazing, avant-garde, adaptable leadership looks like. 7. Bravo to the countless individuals and groups of innovative students and engineers who are putting on creative hats to design ventilators for cheap. My own hubby with his office full of engineers were looking into this and he thought of adjustments to my CPAP machine, something that a team of doctors at Mt. Sinai Hospital in NY were working on as well and have now confirmed feasibility of the conversion. Well done, using your creative minds to help humanity. What do they say? Necessity is the mother of invention?

8. Two major thumbs way down for all the smart people using their brains to hack their way into people's homes and Zoom meetings, stealing credit card numbers (I was a victim!) and other slime-related business during this time of suffering. May all the bad you do, return to you a hundredfold. You are adding to the crazy amount of stress in the world. Are you happier now?

9. Bravo to the countless ordinary citizens organizing groups to spread positivity all across the world, and especially here in Canada. I saw a couple in Vancouver, doing groceries for people and not accepting any money for their time and delivery costs. In Quebec, there is a beautiful rainbow movement "Ça va bien aller/ It's going to be okay" spreading across the province. In Montreal, a gospel choir shared a video of their choir performing virtually from their own homes, joining dozens of orchestras and choirs all over the world sharing their gift of music. Authors and illustrators everywhere coming online to read their stories and teach kids stuck at home how to doodle, you are all crazy amazing.

10. And me? I'm doing my little part. My workload as a teacher has just tripled as I learn a new online platform to deliver activities online to my students. Sadly, my pay has not changed. I suppose I can be bitter about that but that choice does nothing to add to my life or my students. I'll just follow what Teddy Roosevelt said about doing what I can with what I have, where I am. May doors open to a future where I will be more fairly remunerated for what I do.

In addition, the pharmacist called last week. Turns out the medication I am taking for one of the two auto-immune diseases some specialists believe I have, is now controlled by the government. Remember that medicine a certain leader was rambling about above? Well, my prescription has been suspended. Only my doctor has the power to insist my prescription continues as is. I sat with this news for a few minutes before I wrote my doctor. I told him how I was doing and that I was not showing major symptoms of my autoimmune disease. I am not in any major pain. And I am opened to either stopping my meds or reducing my dosage by half so that others in greater need can have access to the meds. Is this crazy? Maybe.

What does one do in the time of a worldwide pandemic? We can choose to focus on the scary numbers and constant barrage of fear-inducing news or we can choose to focus on the encouraging numbers that show more people healing from the virus than succumbing to the virus. We can focus on what brings joy and life. I hear often enough that joyful activities add serotonin and endorphin to our brains, which are good for the immune system and to our mental well-being. What crazy option are you going to choose?

Be fearful and hoard? Or be hopeful and share? Your choice. Behind every dark cloud, there is an ever-shining sun. Just wait. In time, the cloud will pass. ~ Marianne Williamson

Hope is like the sun. If you only believe it when you see it, you will never make it though the night. ~ Princess Leia Organa

PS - I will be just fine with half my meds. I believe it.

Behind every dark cloud, there is an ever-shining sun. Just wait. In time, the cloud will pass.