Dear American Covid-19 Clueless 1

I am grateful that more government officials are finally understanding the importance of social distancing. It is the one thing all of us can do to help. Thank you to everyone who is doing their part. This post is for those who still are not.

I really want you to understand the consequences of ignoring requests for social distancing. You see, when you do stupid things that cause you or your friends to end up in the emergency room, you are going to need doctors and nurses and respiratory therapist and many others to care for you. Guess what? They won’t be there if you continue to avoid social distancing.

Why? As of 2016, the average age of doctors in the United States was 50 and older and 29.2% were 60 or older. And this date does not include older nurses or other health care professionals. Do you really want to kill off the people who could save your life? Your current actions are likely to do just that.

It is true that much is not known about Covid-19, but what is known is that social distancing seems to help slow the spread. Time is what is needed to protect our health care professionals from shortages of needed protective equipment. Every exposure increases the risk of getting this virus and health care workers are the ones repeatedly exposed. Please think about that before you meet your friends at the beach or at a party.

Your life might not be in direct danger from the virus if you are young and healthy unless you fall into an outlier group. However, your life will be in danger in the future if that trauma surgeon is not available when you crash your car. It will be in danger if you have alcohol poisoning or a drug overdose due to excessive partying when that emergency room doctor is not there.

Why would they not be there you ask? They won’t be there because we already have a doctor shortage and your cluelessness will kill off more doctors, nurses, and other first responders and health care professionals. Please think before you risk their lives.

Lost and Grateful in Tokyo

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During a recent short visit to Japan, my family and I were fortunate to receive help from several of her citizens. I do not speak Japanese and despite trying to learn a few words before our trip, I forgot most of them when I needed them. So, 助けたすべての人にどうもありがとうございます (thank you very much to all who helped) us. We encountered some of the best people while visiting and I am most grateful to all of you.

Special Thanks 特別な感謝
Tokubetsuna kansha

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Our first night we traveled from Shinjuku to Odaiba. We arrived at Tokyo Teleport Station. We received help from many wonderful people beginning with a young lady who guided me to the station attendant when my preloaded suica card would not allow me through the exit gate.

Upon leaving Odaiba, we got lost and ended up at Daiba Station. Thank you to the couple who offered to give us a ride to Shinjuku when you were not going that way. Obviously, that was too much to ask and we declined. Thank you to the others who also tried to direct us to the station.

Once we arrived at Daiba Station, I realized we could still get to Shinjuku from there, so we boarded the Yurikamome line to cross the Rainbow Bridge.  Yet, I wasn’t prepared for our train transfer to the Ginza line at Shimbashi Station. Thankfully, an English-speaking news correspondent who was going our direction took pity on us. He guided us to the right train and stayed with us until one stop prior to our station. He also advised us to talk to the station attendant upon entering the train station in the future, as they always have an English-speaking person. There were many others who also tried to help us that same night when we had trouble finding the station. We are grateful to all of you.

We did better after that first night despite some challenges and we fell in love with your beautiful city.

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fray (Feeling It, Entering It, Exiting It) 3

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I think this little gecko was a little frayed when I chased him away from the worm bin that this frayed mat helps keep cool.

I know how he feels since I felt frayed when I entered the anti-bully fray. Eventually, I realized that I had to change my own views and support my child privately while continuing to encourage kindness and understanding even of the bullies. This change inspired my Special-Ism post, About Bullies: Bullies Are Human Too!

Yet, frustration with the slowness of society to change made me want to give up until I realized that I had to focus on peace and joy to find happiness again. The change has indeed brought joy back to our family and it has helped me to observe from afar how God continues to answer my prayers.

No, I do not feel the need to over share those answers; and no, changes have not happened as quickly as I would like. But, even our local politicians are finally getting the idea that they need to show compassion for the homeless and for all people less fortunate if they want to have support from the voters. It is refreshing to see the subtle changes. I am also grateful that the need for kindness is more openly talked about than in years past, and teaching kindness to our children is becoming more of a priority in many schools.

Mia’s grandpa taught me that there were good and bad people everywhere. I knew this was true. I hoped and prayed that there were more good than bad. I hoped one day people would accept others for who they were, not who they wanted them to be … Francesca Lung from Delightfully Different

Post inspired by The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge:

Share a photo of what “fray” means to you — it could be a tear in a favorite pair of jeans, a street rumble just about to begin, or a friend diving into an oncoming wave at the beach.