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K Is For… Knowledge, and Other Smart Things!

Writer Zen Garden Posted on by

Image from airplane window while flying over two snow-capped volcanos in Washington State USA

Noony here. As I write this, the U.S. passes the half-million mark of those infected with COVID-19 and my state, Washington, is still under a Stay Home, Stay Healthy order until the end of the month at least. It’s hard to overestimate the trauma caused by this situation: to individuals and families, forced to shelter in place; to the millions experiencing job loss; to the small businesses facing stoppages; children not able to attend classes, prom, and sports games; and a host of other things. This doesn’t even mention the families who have lost loved ones or are currently facing illness.

During a time like this, unprecedented in its scope to us in modern society, it is incumbent upon us to follow the best knowledge that we can. Here are a few ways to do that:

  1. Remember that the media companies are in business and their business means they need your attention.
  2. Constantly focusing on the negative, whether it’s politics or a health crisis or something else, is unhealthy.
  3. If you do want to find out what’s going on, use good data sources:
    1. In the U.S., that means the doctors who specialize in epidemics and viral disease, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci.
    2. The World Health Organization.
    3. John’s Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.
  4. If you want to learn about the disease itself, The Great Courses Plus has some excellent classes available to subscribers. In the U.S., you can access them through Kanopy via your public library’s electronic learning, or you can subscribe directly to the courses (which I enthusiastically recommend).
  5. Beyond that, ignore the news. Stop focusing on it, going bananas about what this or that person is doing or saying.
  6. Make something.
  7. Meditate.
  8. Garden.
  9. Nap.
  10. Take it easy. Trauma is exhausting. That’s meant literally: it makes our bodies physically tired. Get more rest, and if you’re tired, take a nap.

 

Knowledge is power, as the saying goes. Read books, write in your journal, and use your mind. It’s easy to become scared in a time like this, particularly if you go online and find so many other scared people. But we need to take a deep breath and remember: we were given a mind for a reason. Use your knowledge. Build your knowledge. Keep calm and carry on.

It worked for the British during World War II and it can work for us, now.

Stay well, my friends.

P.S. Wash your hands.

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