Social Distancing

Thank you, coronavirus. Thanks to you a new catch-phrase that has entered the scene: social distancing. It refers to the purposeful act of keeping one's self physically separated from others. Because of the virus, experts are urging folks to try and keep a six-foot distance from others. "Social distancing," however, alludes more to one's self-quarantining one's self; keep going out in public to a minimum. The thinking is the more we can all do to keep our interactions with others to a minimum, the better are our chances of either not catching the virus or not passing it onto others. All of us are in favor of that. Right? If so, the question then becomes: how good of a job do we do in following it?

Keeping one's distance from others is not as easy as it may sound. For instance, how long and how often can one telework from the office? How long and how often can one postpone trips to the grocery store, especially when you are running low on food and you know if you do not go on a regular basis, then the chances are you will find little else but shelves that are empty? How long and how often can one go without physically connecting with others, especially close friends and family members? All of us are, by nature, social creatures. We need interactions with others even if they are with others we either do not know or know all that well.

It is not enough for authorities to tell us we must practice "social distancing." To really dive into the heart of the matter, including its literal implications, requires a heavy-duty outreach campaign. People need to be educated as to exactly what it means and entails and why it is important. Such key phrases in such an effort need to be "sacrifice" and "greater good." Those of authority and with the biggest bullhorns, including our President, need to be sympathetic to what they are asking of all citizens, while at the same time firm in explaining exactly what it means and why it is important when it comes to dealing with the coronavirus.