April 1 starts month four of my life fighting the joy-killing coronavirus. The coronavirus kicked the door down to my quiet existence in Wuhan in early January, stealing joy while leaving behind a trail of death.
Quarantine has been in effect the large majority of my days starting January 23. What lessons have been learned from this raging but often silent battle?
Joy Today
The overwhelming presence of the coronavirus casts a pall over everything it touches, blotting out joy with ugly splotches of fear. A sense of regret soon builds that another day slips away without much joy, a lost opportunity.
How many days can a human afford to let slip away in a joyless state? We’re on the clock because were not promised any set amount of time when life drags us into the arena. A tenuous life span hangs over our heads like a guillotine ready to sever a head from a body.
No one wants to give up a day but the bastard coronavirus runs free again today. Discretion recommends giving up a few days for long-term benefits. Good advice but what about today? Can we fight for joy now?
The war rages but it’s a one-sided affair and the virus has us pinned down. The drawn battle lines show we’re defenseless. No large army of magic pills or grand wizards protects us.
Our commanders order us to lay low, don’t attract attention and maybe the demons will miss you. They promise magical weapons in the future. But what about today?
Does this wicked opponent hold sway over the ability to choose our present frame of mind? Will it stop the smelling of flowers, the basking in the sunshine, or the wonder of scurrying clouds on a moonlit evening? Will smiling and laughing be among today’s victims? Does selfishness replace sharing?
Rules of engagement
These difficult questions face even the most experienced field soldier in the war between the coronavirus and joy. My experience teaches me the fight quickly boils down to a series of individual battles each of us takes on every day.
Rules enforce discipline in military engagements. My guidelines for fighting the coronavirus war:
- Vow to bring a bit of joy to the world today, either to yourself or another.
- No one wins every day. Some days will be bad. Expect to lose but learn from it.
- Help struggling fellow soldiers. No man, woman, or child left behind.
- Stay mentally strong through positive habits, activity and exercise.
- Don’t try to be a hero. Just do your job.
- Prepare for swift, frequent and difficult change.
- Keep calm under fire.
- Avoid rogue people or ideas that put you or others at risk. Don’t spread rumors.
- Prepare to sacrifice without complaint.
- Keep moving forward.
These rules can be tough to accept and follow but our opponent is relentless.
Joyless days face us. Some will die fighting the good fight. But joy will not be defeated in this epic battle if we band together and protect the fragile light from the cold wind.
Victory becomes possible only when everyone pushes in the same direction. Stay strong and keep joy in your hearts.
John McGory is an author who now resides in Columbus, Ohio. He published Seeking Balance: The ultimate guide to English-speaking excellence for the shy, foreign, or frustrated.