Senior Momentum by Zoe Tummillo - April 2020
With a certain irony, they seem to be interdependent, seem to need each other — if only as a wake-up call about other things.
It’s a little trite to revisit those old adages like every dark cloud has a silver lining. But, like it trite or not, there is more than a modicum of truth therein. Old adages can be downright maddening when they pan out and seem to taunt: I told you so!
So, here we are, again, in a huge national emergency, with an invisible adversary — and I cynically search for the up-sides.
Actually, there are many. Let’s start with one of glaring significance: After successfully embarrassing himself with stupid platitudes, unfounded Pollyanna-ish assessments and unbelievably naive statements that “all is well,” our grand national charlatan finally shut up and (OMG!) deferred to the experts. His gravely dangerous egocentric alacrity has been moved over and center stage has been reluctantly handed topeople who know what they are talking about. (Wish it could last beyond the pandemic, but I know that’s pie in the sky.)
When a true disaster threat shows upon our personal doorsteps, our real priorities have a magical way of identifying and revealing themselves — becausethe heat’s on. Things that truly terrify us are clearly defined when we suddenly realize there is a stranger in our midst that we cannot see and that needs us as hosts for its own awful survival! That can get your attention.
Military women and men in combat zones understand that life-or-death thing. Women in hard birthing labor see it clearly. Those of us who have barely squeaked by, escaping death by the Big C, get it. Anyone who escaped a head-on collision literally by inches knows the feeling. First responders to fire, to physical injury and to crime know. Having escaped, we tend to take stock of things.
The bad news doesn’t need much help defining its impact. The good news, however, slips in — often unnoticed — and a little self-conscious. We are supposed to only focus on the darkness; and — for shame! — if you try to point out advantages in the midst of tragedies. But, wait a minute! Don’t families suddenly cling closer – soberly reconsidering what’s important in the face of imminent threats of loss? Don’t communities take great leaps of action on issues that would otherwise limp slowly through “the process?” Legislators at all levels can somehow suddenly and easily accelerate all kinds of stuff, producing needed help — and lots of money! Then, there are the science and research labs that get “emergency” financial infusions (without even having to beg...) and produce medical answers and preventive solutions with amazing efficiency and expertise!
It’s a damn shame that the quality and speed we manage to muster during a crisis (in just those few examples) doesn’t seem to appreciably change our norms. Regrettably, as creatures of habit, when all is well we tend to take it all for granted again, slipping back into our self-focus, and losing some measure of our vigilance.
After a big scare, we might just contact family a bit oftener, shop food and essentials with a little more thought to preparedness, network more with neighbors and (maybe) better appreciate our good health. A good dose of fear is an efficient motivator, and I do believe that when our comfort zones get turned upside down there is a proportional effect that does move us a bit closer to a better norm.
Consciously or unconsciously, something changes in our outlook – like noticing and appreciating the symbolic courage of a scrawny weed in bloom, pushing through a crack in the sidewalk, somehow surviving; somehow.
