It is not difficult to be scared at a time as uncertain as this. COVID-19 has no trouble popping up on our social media feeds and getting itself within almost every conversation. But even when we are frightened, anxious, or confused, we must not tear each other down. Now is the time for all of us to be our best selves.  

In the first few weeks of this crisis here in the US, there have unfortunately been a number of stories that highlight humanity’s propensity for xenophobia, ignorance, and even violence. Asian Americans, many elderly and even homeless, have been spit on, beat up, and attacked; and of course we’ve all seen the many examples of toilet paper hoarding and fights.

The truth is, the virus does not care what race you are, how much money you have, where you are from, or who you are: everyone is at risk of contracting and/or passing it along. And if we continue fighting one another, we will be unable to tackle the real problem at hand.

There are people running out of food, money, jobs, and lives, and pointing fingers and fighting in grocery stores will not help any of these problems go away. Let’s look at this time as an opportunity to be good and to do good. There are so many ways that we can be kind to one another.

It is okay to feel anxious, and natural to feel scared, but in times like this we need to be building each other up, staying at home, protecting those with compromised immune systems, protecting those who must now risk their lives to pay rent, checking-in with friends who struggle with mental health, finding out how to support people who have lost their jobs and/or access to food. 

This disease is dangerous, it’s true. The best way to fight it? Take care of each other. Be good. Do good. 

Find your best self. And be that.