Fear. Such a small word but with such huge implications. The world is currently being gripped by the Corona virus and the fear that people are feeling is almost palpable. Thanks to the media we are seeing panic buying and hoarding of items such as toilet paper (why????), flour, tinned goods, and rice to name a few. Those who cannot afford to buy up large and who live paycheck to paycheck do not have the luxury to hoard food as some feel the need to do. So when they do go to do their weekly shop, they find that they can’t buy some items because some people, with total disregard for others, have bought more than they need. I have not bought extras, but I do feel a fear engulf me when I go into the supermarket and find the shelves half empty. I almost feel a compulsion to put an extra couple of tins in the trolley just in case the shelves have been completely stripped the next time I visit, but common sense prevails and I buy what I need instead, and no more.
I wasn’t going to write about the Corona virus, I feel that the media have totally swamped everyone with the subject. They have sensationalised it and put the fear of God into people. It doesn’t matter which medium, whether it is radio, television, print, or social media, we are constantly being bombarded with doom and gloom by the media. Yes, this is serious. Yes, we should be taking precautions to prevent it from escalating further, but this constant bombardment is only making people freak out more. Where are the stories of those who have made a complete recovery? Wouldn’t this help to allay people’s fears or would it just make us too complacent? I don’t know, but I do know that the media has a tendency to jump on a subject and push it down people’s throats. I mean look at the bush fires in Australia, or climate change, or white supremacy (that one was huge in the media here in New Zealand for awhile); these were constantly thrown at us and then all of a sudden nothing, they have disappeared. Anything to sell papers, make money, attract click bait. So I am trying to stay away from the news and not read the social media posts regarding this virus. I still keep as up to date as I need to be, but all of this extra stuff is surplus to requirement and will only induce fear and anxiety. Instead, I will take my Yoga teacher, Jac’s advice; while acknowledging the virus’s existence and making the necessary changes, I will spread love instead of fear (or something to that effect, that is not verbatim). While I do think about my loved ones and how they could be affected by this, I try not to make up scenarios in my head of what might happen. None of us can see into the future, so we may as well live in the present without fear. Fear will only bog you down and cause you to do crazy things (like buy shit loads of toilet paper and bread). Simply acknowledge it and push it aside, and then get out there and smell the roses or whatever. Life is precarious at the best of times, don’t let fear stop you from living. Keep safe and wash your hands (which nobody should need to be told because they should already be washing them!). Kia kaha.
The Honest Woman's Guide to Growing Up. 