by COOPER TINSLEY - An open letter about the “Silver Lining”
Dear literally anyone,
Hi. Welcome to 2020. The year of change! However, the question remains: what kind of change?
Flatten the curve. The doubling rate is decreasing. The United States exceeds China in the number of deaths. The global infection toll reaches one million. Six feet apart. Unemployment. Economic downturn. N95 masks. Toilet paper. E-learning.
Recently, those terms have become more recurrent in our vocabulary than usual. Things that we normally take for granted are now things that we can only hope for. In times of darkness, the media has an interesting way of portraying hope. Now, we should not try to escape reality by completely disregarding any “bad news” you may receive; however, if you are anything like me, a little positivity would be refreshing. Call me crazy, but there is a silver lining to this unparalleled event. People across the world are rearranging their priorities. People are realizing that six feet is a lot farther than they thought. People are realizing the meaning of a family dinner again. People are realizing the power of a walk to organize their thoughts.
As people consider what they are losing, they start to come to terms with what they can’t live without. To celebrate birthdays, people honk their horns. To announce an engagement, people talk through windows. To visit with friends, people create a Zoom account.
Honestly, if I had to pick a point in time in which the Coronavirus would spread, assuming similar conditions, I wouldn't have changed a thing. All year, I’ve sat in meetings where someone says, “You know, I don't know what it is, but everyone is stressed out, and it's not healthy” or “It seems like it's been AP week all year.” I totally agree. In fact, I was that person in some cases. I was worried. But now is our opportunity, the opportunity to come together and stop the spread of the Coronavirus and replace it with positivity. It is the time to figure out what life really means and to enjoy it while it lasts. Take this time to enjoy the things you love most. And believe me, I get it, this is totally easier said than done. Times like these can be unpredictable and stressful, but if possible, take a break from all that darkness and step into the light, even if it's just for a little bit.
Be kind. Stay healthy. Make the world a better place. Have a great day.
Yours truly,
Cooper T. Tinsley
P.S. Stay positive, you've got this.