Calmly stated facts
This #thankyouthursday, I am grateful for calmly stated facts.
It turns out I have a low threshold for news-induced anxiety, which means over the last week or two I’ve had to develop new routines when it comes to media consumption.
For me, that looks like doing my best to limit poking around online to once or twice a day, and after darkness falls, I stay away from my phone. If I don’t, I inevitably end up browsing my way into a piece of distressing content, which affects my ability to sleep soundly, which affects my ability to stay healthy.
And staying healthy is pretty much my #1 goal these days. (Though really, isn’t it always?)
Fortunately for me, a work colleague sent a video to our team over the weekend, which means my Monday morning included 57 minutes of calmly stated facts about COVID-19.
I am so grateful for calmly stated facts.
Of course there are a lot of upsetting situations right now. (Though, really, aren’t there always?) And I won’t diminish the impact this pandemic is having on millions of people around the globe, you and me included.
But does that mean I have to carry and share fear?
No.
On March 22, Dr. David Price of Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City took the time to have a video call with his family and friends. He’s an ICU doctor. It’s his job to decide which patients need ventilators, and he’s been seeing COVID-19 patients all day long.
And Dr. Price is not afraid.
He says he’s in a “unique position to empower people right now,” and that is what he does in the video. Because indeed, accurate information is empowering—and when shared calmly, it is also reassuring.
“I am confident that the stuff I can tell you today should make you guys feel that, when this comes to your community, you don’t have to be scared and you can protect your family,” Dr. Price says.
Thank you, Dr. Price. Not only for the genuinely useful content, but also for the reminder that among the sensationalism and gossip and fear, there is plenty of reason and calm to go around.
Love > fear,
Christina
p.s. Please don’t touch your face. And also, wash your hands often enough so that, when you do inevitably touch your face, it’s more likely to be okay.