In two short weeks our lives have drastically changed with the swift spread of the Covid -19. And we are witness to the same struggle around the world: a planet populated by nearly 8 billion people are now united against the same problem. In a way, this virus is showing us that the world is smaller than we would like to believe. The things we assume separate us do not actually do so at all, as the novel coronavirus does not discriminate against nationality, race, creed, income, gender, or sexuality.
artwork by @nobonzo
But what I have observed most is an incomparable growth in the acts of connection, compassion and dare I say it, love. The acts are large and small and they represent our interconnectedness, or our realization that our actions are catalysts for what Thich Nhat Hanh characterizes as a co-arising. What this means to me is that our actions are able to lift one another up to enable our collective success. This is true of the safer at home orders issued by executive order on March 19th by Governor Gavin Newsom and this is true by every decision we make individually to help one another thrive in these times.
Personally, I have witnessed many such moments. A notable one is that China has deployed doctors to Italy to offer their expertise as they have been able to flatten their curve on Chinese soil. Another example is seen in Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s impassioned speech on the Congressional floor to fight for a just federal stimulus bill to help families like yours and mine get through this time.
At the community level, activists are fighting for our most vulnerable communities through mutual aid funds that are set up for service sector workers, immigrants, disabled people, LGBTQI and BIPOC folks. And there is an outpouring of people who are sewing or 3D printing masks for front-line medical workers. Some mask makers include members of our own LBCA community!
Individually, there are so many who want to offer the world a piece of their expertise and support. These include donation-based or free exercise classes or even online meditation. But perhaps most important is the desire to reach out to people we know to make sure they are ok. Heartfelt check-ins, endless zoom calls, and kind words go a long way.
Collectively, adhering to the safer at home order and practicing physical distancing when we venture outdoors remains the most significant and immediate action that we can take against widespread transmission. According to a Los Angeles Times Article, the surge in cases for California may not share the same magnitude as New York. There is one caveat to this. We do not know the true number of cases in the state, or even city of Long Beach, as we are sorely lacking enough testing kits. The numbers will be clearer in the coming weeks, but for now, the thought is that early state level intervention will saves lives.
There is very little left to say, but the fight continues, and so does our ability to support one another. Eventually, this will pass. And when it does, do not forget the tremendous acts of support, solidarity and our interdependence. It is these profound acts and our collective actions that are causing me to dare to hope in these times. Please continue to pay that forward. And just so you know, the LBCA team is in touch with one another and we don’t have the words to express how much we miss your presence. Until next time.