During the Pandemic, What’s a Motivational Writer to Say?

I wish I had all the answers.

Photo by Alexandre Crousette on Unsplash

I’ve recently been part of a conversation about whether or not one ought to expect more or less of oneself at this time of the pandemic. Is it wrong to motivate readers to do more than just get through this?

Unprecedented Anxiety

The needs for social distancing, quarantine and shelter-in-place restrictions are stressful. Watching the rising number of cases of the virus as well as the rising death toll throughout the world has brought unprecedented anxiety to our population. This is a situation we have not experienced in my lifetime.

The changes that are taking place are bad enough in the short term. But we are riddled with uncertainty about what the future will look like? Will we be able to go back to school or work even in the fall? How long will the disease ravage our citizens? When will the government be able to offer some real help?

When can we hug our loved ones again or go out lfor coffee and trust that the people standing next to us are not carrying the disease? When can we trust our world again? The anxiety is well-founded and real, probably even life-saving.