There is promise in every problem, and if you make the time to analyze the problem well, you will find that promise. As a young child, I had a sibling who experienced struggle in school. I was able to analyze that problem, and use what I learned to be a better teacher and parent. Time and again, we see how smart, good people seek the promise in the problem, and use what they learn to better living and society. This is good work.
Our current, collective problem is the pandemic, and this problem holds lots of promise for better living in the future. The pandemic has helped us to see lifeways that are positive, and lifeways that need to change for the better.
Living Conditions
We see coronavirus numbers spiking in poor neighborhoods. One reason why this is true is that many who suffer from poverty, live in conditions that are too crowded and not sufficient for good, healthy living. We need to work as a country to make sure that all people have suitable, healthy, safe living conditions.
Health Research
We also notice that this virus has struck marginalized groups more than mainstream groups. These marginalized groups have a history of less quality medical care, access, and research. The pandemic clearly points out that we have to make quality health care more affordable and accessible to marginalized groups, and we have to elevate the support for research related to these groups' medical and health needs. The more we learn about what these groups need, the better we will be able to serve the people who were most affected by COVID-19.
Healthy Habits
We've learned about how this virus spreads, and we know that this virus spreads the way that many other illnesses spread through transmissions from mouths, noses, and sometimes touching too. In one summer camp that a did good job keeping children healthy, they noted that campers didn't get as many other sicknesses this summer as they had contacted in the past. This shows that we can learn how to confront transmission of illnesses with better, healthy habits and social supports. These habits require that our homes and institutions have the facilities for clean, safe bathrooms, water fountains, hand washing, and space between people. We need to spend time and money updating public buildings to ensure that these spaces are places where people can be healthy.
Science and Math Literacy
Clearly many displayed the fact that they are scientifically illiterate. If you've been reading all about the pandemic, you've probably become more informed and skilled at science research. To be able to combat modern threats and challenges, we all have to update our ability to understand, analyze, and utilize science and math stats and information.
Better Family Life
Many families have pointed to the fact that the pandemic made them slow down. Many noted that they preferred a more reasonable family schedule. Before returning to pre-pandemic craziness, I think we have to consider what's best for family life and make changes so that we uplift good living for all families with more reasonable schedules.
Safe, Healthy Work Conditions
Some who died from the pandemic, died because they had poor working conditions, conditions without sufficient PPEs, good spaces for hygiene, and safe schedules, structures for working during a pandemic. We have to reconsider the work conditions that people endure in our country and work for safer, reasonable work conditions so that workers stay safe, healthy, and happy too.
Propaganda and Poor Leadership
Clearly, poor leaders have been more visible than ever during this pandemic. There are leaders who spread bogus propaganda leading to unnecessary illness and death, and also hindering efforts to mitigate this pandemic. It is essential that we elect leaders who are able to take problems seriously by analyzing the problems with a diverse team of best and brightest with up-to-date, accurate scientific and math data. Leaders that deny serious problems and distract us from the good work we need to do together to solve these problems only make the problems worse. Donald Trump and his team demonstrated poor leadership during the pandemic.
Positive Relationships, Good Food, Optimal Health, Healthy Recreation & Clean Environment
For most of us, what has helped us manage and stay positive during this pandemic has been our good health, good food, and good relationships. In society, we have to work to help everyone attain good food and optimal health. We also have to support positive relatioship building. We need each other all the time, but especially when problems like a pandemic occur.
Healthy, outdoor recreation has also been a silver lining of this environmente. I know that most of us are enjoying local and far-away conservation lands more than ever since we can get together safely with loved ones outdoors. This outdoor recreation depends on a clean environment, and this clean environment brings us the inspiration, health, and outlook we need to work through tough times. We need to commit to protecting our wonderful natural lands and resources, this is vital to our long term health and happiness.
I'm sure there are many more lessons learned from this pandemic. What have you learned? How has the pandemic changed your life? To see the promise in any problem is to be able to move past that problem to betterment. I am so thankful to the people before me who bettered my world because they were willing to see the promise in problems and work for change. I want to work for change and betterment in the areas I noted, areas of living that we clearly need and profit from and areas that we can work to better in the days ahead.