Positivity is Contagious

Let me share a characteristic about myself. I’m a person that always strives to be positive and find a silver lining in everything. My hope with this blog is to share some positive thoughts and news surrounding COVID-19. Or if you haven’t heard it’s scientific name Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). As of April 13, 2020 there are over 1,860,000 + confirmed cases, and 114,000 + deaths worldwide. The seriousness of this Global Pandemic cannot be understated.

Allow me to share my thoughts on some positive things I have seen.

We know how to slow the spread of the virus and that’s by social distancing. Some of my colleagues and clients have heard me say that a more accurate description is physical distancing. Socially we’re still getting together thanks to the internet. Whether it’s FaceTime, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Zoom, or whatever your preference. We are doing social get-together’s online more frequently. For business meetings, and occasional virtual happy hours, etc. there are more and more of us turning on our video to show our faces. That’s a good thing (maybe not with my face), but for most, that is a good thing. By continuing our physical distancing, current reports are showing that we are beginning to see a flattening of the curve. On a personal note, I have lost 7 pounds since being locked down. It might be stress, but I am doing my part to flatten more than one curve.
There are more and more countries participating in physical distancing and the results are reassuring.
Scientists around the world are working on a cure. It will take months or possibly years to develop a vaccine, but the work so far has shown promising avenues that have been identified.
Most people recover from the virus. Around the world many are recovering from the infection, thanks to the hard work of medical staff and the people who support them.
Testing for the virus is increasing and improving.
People are coming together and helping each other like never before. Many of us are finding ways to bring out the best in ourselves and our communities, resisting misinformation and divisiveness. Kind gestures are now increasing everywhere.
After five years of fighting a civil war in Yemen, a cease fire broke out because of COVID-19. Imagine the two sides just starting a dialogue for peace and listening to each other in this and all other conflicts around the world.
A major modeling report recently has now lowered its prediction for the death toll in the United States.
We have relearned or now know new acronyms like PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), WHO (World Health Organization), PUI (Patient Under Investigation) and the SGN (Some Good News) network, thanks to John Krasinski.
I get such positive feelings from children writing and drawing with chalk on sidewalks and driveways with such uplifting words.
We’ll have lessons learned from this, and we will be more prepared than ever in business and Government. It’s great to see local Municipalities, Counties, State, Federal, and Health Systems all working and communicating together.
When I go for my daily walks, I have noticed that people are friendlier, they wave, say hello and are also smiling. Even those wearing a mask. I can see it in their eye’s that they are smiling.

I could go on with more positive news, there is a lot of it out there. I know it is hard on all of us to be positive when many people are dying. But we will get through this.

To all the medical professionals, grocery store employees, delivery drivers, pharmacy workers, mail carriers, firefighters, police, nursing home employees, and everyone else working to save lives and keep us all going. Thank you, we are all grateful for your sacrifice.