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3 Reasons the Coronavirus Gives Me Hope

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I first read something about coronavirus six weeks ago. The news said it was spreading in China and was very contagious. I kept tabs on it as the cases multiplied and spread, but it still felt far away. I decided to go on my trip to Spain in March anyway. It had already spread to the United States, after all – what could a bit more travel really harm?

Turns out, a lot. I had to cut my trip to Spain short when the United States issued a travel ban. I left just in time to avoid the country’s lockdown. Back in the United States, I immediately entered into a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine.

What started as a distant news story now dominates every single headline. Information about the coronavirus engulfs us by the second, hitting us on all of our media platforms.

As we intake all of the sensationalism – updated statistics, new scientific findings, and government responses – I worry that we are missing a crucial part of the story.

Yes, it’s important to know who has been diagnosed with coronavirus and how to take necessary precautions. But the continuous media stream is also tapping into our innate human negativity bias, feeding into our fears. We’re focusing on all of the bad and none of the good.

In the end, the good is what’s going to take this depressing terror and turn it into something hopeful.

Three Reasons the Coronavirus Gives Me Hope

Yes, the spread of the coronavirus has been scary. We’ve never experienced anything like this in our lifetimes, and it might get worse before it gets better. But this pandemic has given me hope – and it should give you hope too.

1. We have proven our ability to implement changes collectively and individually.

When China first issued severe restrictions for its citizens one month ago, many of us in the world watched imperviously from afar. Today, you’d be hard-pressed to find an individual who isn’t affected by the coronavirus.

In a matter of weeks, communities sprang into action to combat this deadly virus. Local and national governments issued lockdowns and regulations. Businesses and schools created new policies and communication networks. Individuals have canceled plans, kept informed, and completely altered their behavioral patterns.

Whether you agree with all of these changes or not doesn’t matter. The point is this: we have proven that we can leap to action in drastic, impactful ways.

We must remember this fact as we progress into the 21st century filled with more problems. Problems like climate change, which poses a threat much more deadly than COVID-19 if undeterred. Some of the problems we are yet to face aren’t even in our awareness yet.

But this pandemic has proven that no problem is too big or widespread for us to tackle.

As individuals, I encourage you to look at the changes you’ve made in your daily lives. How might you implement similar-scale changes to an issue like global warming? How can we become more sustainable with our travel?

On the business level, this pandemic has proven that companies can afford to put people first above profit. It’s also demonstrated that governments can create regulations that we can all adhere to and buy in to. And not just local governments either, but governments around the world.

Which leads me to my next point.

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2. We are more connected than ever before.

Gone are the days when we can exist in our own silos and not consider the impact our actions have on others. If the internet opened the door to how we can link information between people, then this virus has demonstrated how linked our lives are.

The incredibly contagious virus has spread around the world in a matter of months. There’s a reason the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. Individual countries are taking their own approaches, but ultimately, each country’s strategy affects others.

We cannot think of ourselves with the narrow perspective of our own nation. Whether it’s the economy, research, or actual illness, collaboration needs to happen by the global community.

The same is true at the local community level. Every organization, no matter its size or nature, has had to adjust to the illness. My school has to make decisions on what to do, just like my dad’s engineering firm, my cousin’s resource shelter, and my brother’s gaming company. I’ve gotten email updates from travel agencies, local health offices, and even Google.

Nobody is exempt from the effects of the coronavirus because the virus is not selective with its targets. It affects everyone: people of different races, socioeconomic statuses, nationalities, genders, religions, etc. Unlike so many other institutionalized structures around the world, this illness is, in some ways, a great equalizer.

But not entirely, which is why we must learn the third reason.

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3. We have raised awareness to the fact that some people have more privileges than others.

While everyone may be susceptible to the coronavirus, not everyone has the same privileges to combat it. If we can take this critical idea away from all of this, then we will have learned a powerful lesson.

I was on vacation in Spain when the United States issued a travel ban for Europe. I immediately flew home, and, per my government’s requirements, I began my 14-day self-quarantine. This means that, since landing in the airport, I needed to isolate myself from every other person.

I have an empty lake house that I can stay in, free of charge. My salary isn’t affected by my two-week hiatus, and I have a team of people around me to deliver anything I need. I also could afford to rent a car to drive back home, allowing me to avoid more public transportation. (And to really prove my point, I drove a brand new Mercedes Benz when the rental company overbooked the standard model I reserved).

Not everyone has these luxuries. In fact, very few people do.

As we consider the decisions that people are making in the face of the very real dangers of this virus, we also must consider the disparate circumstances that individuals are in.

Some people cannot afford to rent a car, let alone take a day off work. Many families don’t have the choice to “socially distance” themselves from others. A lot of people won’t go to the doctors, even if they show symptoms, because they cannot afford it.

As we move forward, with both this challenge and future ones, we need to keep this perspective in mind as we contemplate decisions and expectations for our communities. Whether it be the issue of universal health care, individual rights, or governmental policies, we’d be remiss to not remember the powerful lesson that this pandemic has taught us: not everyone has equal privileges.

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Conclusion

The chaos that the coronavirus has caused since its first inception is unparalleled. As the number of cases and deaths keeps rising, and drastic action is taken, I don’t think it’s too soon to look for the positive lessons that we can learn from this pandemic.

In fact, given the fear-based media and emotionally-charged climate, I think it’s necessary to take a pause and consider what we can learn in the midst of it all.

Because, if we learn these lessons, then the coronavirus can be a sign of hope.

The three main reasons the coronavirus gives me hope:

1. We have proven our ability to implement changes collectively and individually.
2. We are more connected than ever before.
3. We have raised awareness to the fact that some people have more privileges than others.

As we move forward into the uncertain times ahead, we all must remember these three reasons the coronavirus gives us hope. If we do, not only can we improve our behaviors, but we can learn something life-changing.

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