21 Positives of 2020’s Pandemic
Tired of bad news? Turn global suffering into global gifts.
Let’s consider the positives and learning opportunities this global punch in the face presents…
1. The importance of health is front page news
Health is wealth. Less healthy = more dead? How can I serve others when I am sick in bed? Though falling sick, having an accident or succumbing to disease can happen to any of us, the risks from viruses are greater for those with existing conditions and weak immune systems. Since I’m a 35-year old female who prioritises mental and physical health every day, I am at comparatively low risk from this virus. Nevertheless, the potential for permanent lung damage remains unclear. My main responsibility is to prevent or limit my role in spreading the virus to others — how many people’s deaths are you ok with causing?
2. 9–5 working days in-office are disrupted
2020’s pandemic makes us question the connections between work-location, work hours and getting meaningful things done. Workplaces and schools which have been mindlessly stuck on Victorian-era factory working hours are now advising remote working. Some employers may realise that it doesn’t make sense to force their workers to be in the office all day while others will realise just how important face-to-face interactions really are. Employees who have dreamt of being able to “work from home”, and those who believe that this means “time off”, can now both check their beliefs against reality. Numerous education institutions who have been considering distance learning are now able to try it out — anyone who thinks it’s like teaching in front of a video camera will quickly learn from these experiences.
3. People’s true colours are revealed
Fear or love? Panicked or calm? Informed or ignorant? Our true selves are more readily visible when we react to the out-of-ordinary. Military life and many fighting arts train people to deal with stressful situations. I’m not very good at reacting calmly — scuba diving is one way I’ve tried to practice this skill. Ironically, today, I went diving and had my first ever panic reaction underwater; I felt I couldn’t breathe. All I could think of was getting to the surface for air. I did everything dive training teaches you not to — panicked, left my buddy, rushed kicking up to the surface. The first, last, and only time I practiced the emergency skills was 10 years ago for the basic certificate training. Now I’m signing up for a refresher in the pool. (That this isn’t a mandatory part of maintaining diving certification seems a little odd to me.) Dealing with an unknown situation clearly revealed my outdated training — I shouldn’t be diving without these skills. How you choose to conduct yourself and what you choose to prioritise will be truly tested in testing times — base instincts may override your rational brain. Training, discipline and repeated practice are your best bet.
4. The fragility of our globalised systems is clear
Though global crises aren’t new, it seems collectively we humans have an alarmingly short memory span, so easily lulled into security through our routines. I didn’t imagine Tokyo’s train system shutting down — until it did after the earthquake on March 11th 2011. I didn’t imagine the USA could stop all flights from Europe in peace time — until they did in March 2020. I didn’t imagine a developed country living under lockdown — until Italy was. People panic buy, supermarkets empty, supplies falter. The foundations we rely upon in everyday life are built on thin ice. As they creak, crack or break, many people just want things to return to normal. But normal will never again be the same. Sustainable comes from the French, sous-tenir, to hold from below.
Question: How strong are the foundations our societies rest upon?
Answer: As strong as its weakest parts.
5. More people might be encouraged to grow their own food
Suddenly people are worried about global food supply chains. Good — better a few decades late than never. The science is clear — climate change threatens our global food webs — storms wreak havoc on crops, disrupt transport lines, and ocean acidification and warming threaten fish stocks. I am reassured to be living on Pohnpei where the coconuts, bananas, and spinach will help against food shortages if the ship doesn’t come. If it takes a global pandemic to wake people up to the reality of their connection with food and the importance of growing it, so be it. I still haven’t started gardening yet — perhaps it’s time. Our needs as mammals are simple — food and water, shelter and love. Beyond this, most is superfluous.
6. People care more about washing their hands and….
I have long been astounded at the number of seemingly rational, professional adults who, after going to the toilet, swish their hands under running water and consider them cleaned. Meanwhile, perhaps they think I’m scrubbing up to perform a surgical operation. Basic hygiene is simple — the connection between correct hand-washing and preventing a whole range of illnesses has long been understood.
7. … the message to stay at home if you feel unwell is being shouted globally
Your body is constantly talking to you — when you have a headache, your body is telling you to rest.
Don’t try to kill the pain — care for it.
So often, when we feel unwell we ask “Am I feeling unwell enough to not work?” Most employers have “sick leave” but how about “health leave” — time to focus solely on taking care of yourself and being well. Shouldn’t we encourage people to take an afternoon or an odd day off to avoid weeks of more serious illnesses? In 2020’s pandemic, the importance of preventing or limiting the spread of a virus is more important than the work you would normally be expected to get done. It took a global punch in the face to remind us that work, school, and all these things we consider so important are secondary to the health and wellbeing of the communities in which we live. Though I have long preached this message, I still find it hard to stay at home when I’m not sure if I’m unwell enough!
8. People get to test out their emergency plans
How well are you prepared for disaster? Whether it’s a personal dealing with disaster plan, an emergency management plan at work, or your recent stockpiling of toilet paper, there’s nothing like reality to test out your contingency plans — if any. Did you account for this eventuality in your planning? How well did the plan work? Are all the right people enough familiar with the plan for it to be useful? How can it be improved for next time? Use it, review it, revise it. Will the next time you try it be a simulation or for real?
9. Reduction in global CO2 emissions from flights and economic slow down
Flights in and out of Pohnpei island are cut to less than a third of normal: multiply that to the global scale — the positive environmental impacts of everyone doing a lot less is very real. Some suggest that the reduction in pollution from the lockdown and economic slowdown will save more lives than preventing infections — nature certainly has its way of rebalancing.
When my taxi driver threw his soda can out the window, I wondered why he disrespected himself so much. I’m heartbroken that for all this education in the world, people fail to see how taking care of your home planet is taking care of yourself.
10. Increased understanding of epidemiology
At the end of 2019 I knew next to nothing about epidemiology. Though I still can’t spell it or say it, now I know next to nothing plus a little = progress! Can lessons learnt from containing the spread of viruses be applied to other contexts? I have often wondered whether greed should be treated like a virus. My belief is that humans are not inherently greedy but that people with greedy tendencies will inevitably claw their way to power. As they take more than their fair share or exploit others, they cause the not-greedy to suffer. Not wanting to be exploited or worse off, greed’s contagion spreads. Can we tackle greed like a virus? Isolate it, contain it, stop its spread; gratitude is the cure?
11. Bumped Brexit off the headlines for a while
1360 days since half of the UK population voted to leave the EU, even I’m bored of Brexit and I haven’t lived in the UK or Europe for over a decade. Though the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland formally left the European Union on 31st January 2020, laws remain essentially the same until 31st December 2020. We don’t know what will or won’t be negotiated between Europe and the UK in the remaining 293 days of the transition period. Nothing like a global pandemic to take our minds off this.
12. Demonstrates that a coordinated rapid response to tackle global issues — including climate change — is possible
A massive coordinated response to a global crisis is possible. Suddenly the impossible happens.
Reduce electricity demand by 12–20% in two months?
Impossible!?!
Done, by Japan after the 2011 disasters.
$1.5 trillion funding in three days?
Impossible!?!
Boom! Fed “injects” 1.5 million million dollars to prevent “unusual disruptions”.
In the same way that acting early prevents the spread of the virus, we know that acting now against climate change will prevent much larger catastrophes in the coming years. This isn’t someone else’s problem — this is YOUR problem, MY problem, HUMANITY’S problem — Italy is in lockdown — how do you feel about earth lockdown? If you want to live in your underground bunker community and then try to rebuild human society, fine. I’m going to continue playing in and caring for nature, enjoying her bounty, and doing all I can in my everyday life to make this the best situation possible. For those who hadn’t noticed that our economy and laws are secondary to nature, welcome to the party!
13. Manufacturers of protective wear are having a good year
Global demand for masks, gloves, and protective gear is outstretching demand. Manufacturers of those items must be doing well. Those in the tourist industry — not so well. Putting all your eggs in one basket has never been a good idea. Note to self — if you set up a business dependent on travel, consider a side-gig which thrives when tourism plummets. Diversity is key to resilience.
14. Tourist sites are empty!
When I recently wrote
I’d love to see sunrise at the Taj Mahal, Angkor Wat, or the Bagan temples in Myanmar but I know that what I’d really like to experience is the energy of these places largely undisturbed.
a global pandemic wasn’t really what I had in mind. But hey — maybe now is the perfect time to experience all those “must-sees” without having to contend with the crowds?!
15. Check your baselines
I often refer to the different environments of life to check how balanced life is. We cannot prioritise all at once and letting one area slip too far behind will inevitably impact our ability to make progress in another. Balance is a dynamic process. In 2017 I focused on finances — cleared my debt then saved a financial safety net in case I have to stop working for a year. 2018 was health — 310 days of no-booze and I tried out the Happy Body program. In 2019 I focused on “connection” or relationships. If I have no friends, no food or money, with habits detrimental to my health, I am more likely to be someone in need of help. I try my best to be able to serve others. We should work to elevate our baselines so when we get knocked back we have the best chances of recovery.
16. Fewer social events remove distractions from creativity
Around the world, many are not allowed to go to school or work. The swimming pool and the museum are closed, sports and music events are off — what are we to do? If you’ve had trouble spending time with yourself, now’s a great time to address that. What do you enjoy doing that you didn’t make time for before? What can you create? Writing, drawing, dancing, singing, there are so many creative arts that you can cultivate. Now there are fewer social distractions, unleash your creative self, create! Produce! Reproduce! Make love! Love making! GO!
17. Deals on flights?
I received an email from United Airlines announcing increased flexibility for flights booked during March — maybe I should book ahead for next year’s travels? As global travel is much reduced in this pandemic, I’m holding out a few more weeks hoping for some cheaper flights to get me home to see my family this summer.
18. We realise what a germ-y existence we lead
Suddenly we realise how much closer our bodily fluids are to one another’s! Cell phones are filthy. If your yoga teacher isn’t asking you to clean the provided mat at the end of class, bring your own wipes. How disgusting the door handle, light switches, and taps (faucets) are. Biodiversity in public transport systems are one set of disturbing ecosystems that don’t seem to be at risk under climate change. Exposure to some dirt and germs is inevitable and beneficial to develop our immune systems. Like most things, it’s a question of balance.
19. May push forward some useful developments in our healthcare systems
Many of the roots of our modern healthcare systems lie in times of crises. In the late 1920s and early 30s, many countries were trying to address high infant mortality rates, acute contagious diseases such as dysentery and typhoid, and chronic diseases such as tuberculosis. In wartime Japan, healthcare became a national project aiming to increase the number of healthy soldiers. Public health nurses worked to develop basic hygiene practices in communities in close collaboration with agricultural cooperatives for nutritious food. What progress in our healthcare systems might come from 2020’s pandemic?
20. People in developed countries get a taste of some of the shit that people in developing countries deal with all the time
I’ve been living in the Federated States of Micronesia for just over a year. This is already the second or third state of emergency declared — last year schools in Yap closed for dengue fever and leptospirosis. Many people in developed counties tend to shit their pants at the slightest disruption to everyday normality while such inconveniences are much more normal in developing countries.
“The quarantine measures will be similar to when we dealt with the cholera outbreak”
I heard people at our emergency management meeting say. Not always having access to clean, safe drinking water; electricity on-and-off; disruption of medical supplies — I’m much more used to these kind of things now.
21. The oneness of our shared humanity is clear
Wake up world! What unites us is bigger than what divides! Not taking care of this planet is not taking care of yourself! What an important lesson we as a global community can learn today!
Let’s learn. Let’s love. Let’s live.
If you enjoyed reading, you can show your appreciation by clapping up to 50 times on the hands below or sharing with people who might be interested. I always love receiving feedback (good or bad), comments, questions, and suggestions.
