My clients and students have been getting the message this week and especially today that I’m now working remotely, offering circles and workshops by webinar, sessions by phone or Skype.
I can’t ethically put them or the public at risk when the public health division of your city and county issues the statement: “If you can feasibly avoid bringing large groups of people together, consider postponing events and gatherings.” “Workplaces should enact measures that allow people who can work from home to do so. Taking these measures can help reduce the number of workers who come into contact with people with COVID-19 and help minimize absenteeism due to illness.” See the full announcement here.
And yet if you look on the local community calendar listings, groups are still meeting, events still occurring. Most of the schools are still open and people are going to work.
But driving around today just to get out of the house and take a walk, the streets are definitely more quiet. There is caution and hesitation in the air. The city feels ‘on hold’.
Pulling back from the daily rhythm of life is hard, but as a community, we are being asked to do this. We aren’t being told to…yet.
The governmental leaders in enacting states of medical emergency, all have the power in one degree or another to cancel events and gatherings.
My preference would be to have the choice to opt-out rather than have it dictated to me. It’s something I ‘am in control’ of in a situation that is very much out of control.
I realize that my ability to work from home is a privilege that not everyone has, but I am exercising that privilege for the greatest good of public health and to protect myself, my clients, students and larger community and world.
It’s my hope that this action along with the many tens of thousands (more?) of others who can work from home are all helping to contribute to slowing the transmission.
Because, the transportation hub that is Seattle has not ceased. Planes still come in and out (except for the limitations imposed by the Feds), trains, ships, cars and buses are all still running, still taking people, infected or not all over the world. If those channels were to have limitations imposed upon them, further disruptions will occur, of course.
We’re not there yet. Our leaders, I feel, have been keeping our community informed every day, and now twice a day. Each successive day since last week we’ve gotten updates and progressively more encouragement to withdraw and set limits on our social activities.
This is all still the ‘new normal’. Many people I’ve spoken to seem to be in some early stage of grief about it: Either flat out denial that this is really something to be worried about, that it’s being blown out of proportion by the media or they are angry that it’s intruding on their lives and disrupting the ‘flow’.
Some people are paying attention and making adjustments, but this is really just the beginning.
People who live elsewhere and have 1 or 2 COVID-19 cases in their community, I encourage you to look at how Seattle is handling the crisis. It will probably serve as a model as more cases occur where you are.
It remains to be seen just how this develops and evolves, and I feel it’s always best in times of crisis to do only what you are really able to do. Limit having to make too many decisions if you can and help out if you feel called to do so.
In my work as a community leader, I feel it important to serve as a connector for individuals to resources and information that may be helpful to make the most informed decisions.
Creating the (now) bi-weekly online healing circle/meditations, switching my classes to webinar and sessions to remote have all been blessings in disguise. I’m still able to maintain connection and groundedness with my community and to the people I serve despite how fast everything is rapidly changing. It’s a touch point. I’m grateful for the technology that exists today to permit this to occur.
I foresee the importance of maintaining this connection as we are either asked voluntarily or are required to make changes to limit social interactions.
People are social and usually do not fare well in isolation.
In future blog I hope to explore this last point.
In the meantime, keep calm and stay informed.
Copyright 2020 Eileen Dey Wurst
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