My bucket list involves just making it through these critical times.
My workplace has hired new trainees to fill in the gaps where some current employees are taking leave of absence to care for family or elders during the current pandemic. This is a tenuous time, because the trainees aren't up to snuff on store policy and customer interaction, which can sometimes cause some unnecessary tensions. Add the uncertainty factor which causes misinformation.
While misleading people is not recommended, the lack of good knowledge only contributes to the growing concern, with depleted store supplies adding to tensions. Miraculously, people are surprisingly patient during this time, and accepting of the "new normal" of social distancing until a vaccine for coronavirus can be discovered and administered.
Just how all this will affect smaller businesses, time will tell. Because rumors are quickly reported, our local leaders are meeting behind closed doors to discuss just how to reopen businesses so that spreading coronavirus is minimized, and that resurgence of coronavirus is quashed, all the while restoring the economy to levels where people will be able to return to work instead of working remotely at home.
Like many of you, we await these implementations cautiously. We neither wish to jeopardize peoples' health, but businesses cannot remain closed indefinitely. My personal feeling is that if these implementations can be done in incremental steps, there may be less resultant blowback than if we unwisely disregard recommendations from authorities.
It is understood that personal freedoms are considered sacred, yet placing personal freedoms before the greater good is only being self-centered and selfish. Consider that authorities are using the best possible means for treating people affected by coronavirus, and that if we disregard recommendations, we are contributing to the spread of the virus and the delay with which businesses can reopen. If people cannot see this, they are both ignorant and and ill-informed. Listen to the authorities and do what they ask.
Obviously, use your BS meter to detect misinformation, and don't be taken in by spammers/scammers quoting false reasonings for their own advantage. There are both good and bad people out there, some who work an honest day's wage, and others who believe in "easy money."
In conclusion, if we can remain both patient and caring, hopeful and obedient, honest and open-minded, we'll have a better time of things. Lack of good communication and useful knowledge only contributes to the growing concern that exists, and causes unnecessary contention which leads to injurious things. Practice peaceful discourse instead of unreasonable protest.
May you find peace during these critical times. It is something we sorely need.
