Uncertainty

Uncertainty is the word of these days. In its name and through its meaning we all seem to be dancing to its tune. Every day "new" pseudo-information, based on projections or conspiracies, comes to light. This is by far the most important backdrop of this pandemic. How, due to the fragility of the system, we all feel this nagging sense of despair and a not so secret fear that we try not talk about because we need hope. Hope brings us the prospect of freedom to finally go out and be mundane and not care about caring too much. Hope makes us think a cure is imminent and the technological advances will help speed up the process. We go to sleep in a groundhog day fashion, hoping the next day our news outlets feed us with an article, a study or even just a headline that supplies the light at the end of the tunnel. That is how desperate we all are.

It would seem that staying at home with our households, our castles, our headquarters, our loved ones, pets and everything that we don't get to enjoy in our rat race daily lives, would be something to look forward to. Maybe even use our phones to Face Time someone. And we do, but it only scratches the itch so far.

Restrictions are everywhere and depending where you are in the world right now they can go from a hefty fine to a straight beat down in countries like India. Shop hoarding and stockpiling are among the current lexicon as well. In Trump country gun stores are considered essential goods. Among the many conspiracies that this article will not digress on are, a book written in 1981, Nostradamus writings, depopulation, america trying to weaken china, coronavirus hoax, and the gradual loss of privacy with apps that track our every move in order to inform us that we may be near an infected person. This last one isn't actually a conspiracy.

There are also the economic consequences behind the power of uncertainty, from company lay offs to government bailouts and even to new business opportunities such as the rise of home food deliveries or virtual PT sessions. Just how long will these bailouts and lay offs are sustainable is anyone's guess, and there lies another problem which the economic projections and words like recession looming about.

It is impossible to write this article without mentioning the gallantry of the doctors, nurses firemen and police who stand fast and risk their own lives even more than usual in order to help us and in some cases force us to go and stay home for our own safety, as if we were irresponsible children neglecting the real danger of this pandemic. Surprise, we are.

For the moment, times are indeed changing and it remains to be seen that what is currently temporary may become permanent. To cough is now a bodily function that might  equate to social scare, hugging will be an act of courage, and kissing will be revolutionary. The generalised fear will make sure masks and rubber gloves will probably become norm and probably there will be a whole fashion industry telling us what colour will look better.

Let's stay home and safe