To open or not to open? The question of the century.
You’ve got the ‘Never Openers’, the ‘Partial Openers’ and the ‘Let ‘Er Rip!’ openers.
After listening to the pros and the cons on all sides I’m going to give the Hill Side of Life opinion, which is nonpolitical, it’s just an opinion from someone who was raised in a family that never hesitates to share their opinion. Check out my uncle’s https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Hill_(golfer) and you’ll understand.
The main concern about opening is some people don’t respect social distancing. DUH. Rude and inconsiderate people are everywhere. Don’t punish everyone for the actions of one.
I am responsible my behavior, not yours. This came into focus during this quarantine.
I have been a morning walker even before the quarantine began. Sidewalks were mostly empty. It was a great time to plan my day and be a bit healthier.
Now with more people joining me on the sidewalk anxiety increases as someone approaches me. Were they going to social distance and step off the sidewalk like I do? Nine out of 10 times yes, but then there’s that one person. The one who just keeps walking on the sidewalk and ignores me. My negative self-talk starts.
‘Why should I be the only one to step off? Do they think they are better than me?’ I get especially annoyed when the person is riding a bike on the sidewalk, NEXT to the bike path, forces me off the sidewalk.
Suddenly my morning walks fill with anxiety as people approach. I went from planning my day to planning my attack. I imagine blocking the sidewalk to force them off. Or being obnoxious and yelling at them as they pass. At the last moment I step off like jumping overboard. As they pass, I give them my best death stare, (hidden behind sunglasses). The rest of my walk I’m whining about these rude people ruining my walks. Should I quit my morning walks because of these rude, inconsiderate people and wait for them to go away? Like this virus, rude and inconsiderate people aren’t going to go away. That’s when I decided to Step Off.
Now, when I walk, I Step Off regardless of the other walkers’ actions. Their behavior doesn’t matter to me. I only focus on my goals to be healthy and plan my day. So regardless of their actions I Step Off. The release of anxiety and stress was amazing! Stepping Off wasn’t a negative action anymore. I did it to stay focused on my goals, stay healthy and get my day off to a great start.
I am responsible for my actions. Not the government. The government can set guidelines. The government can create laws but it’s my choice whether I want to follow them. (Which for the most part I have, except for that legal drinking age law when I was a teenager. I might have broken that one time or two dozen.)
It reminds me of a friend who had a flour allergy. She ate some cake. I tried to stop her, worried about her allergy. She said, “All I get is a rash, I am good. Don’t worry, I know my allergies.” Her doctor informed her of her risks, and she is free to decide her actions.
The Big Brother rules are concerning. I hate Big Brother rules. (Just ask my big brother.) Give me guidelines. If I want to do something, these are the risks.
My opinion about the opening, We The People, understand the risks. We The People elected you and you trusted our actions then. So why don’t you trust our actions now?
Because We The People are ready to fight this virus, but we can’t do this without the government realizing we are just as ‘Woke’ as they are. Something I would say to my Big Brother all the time. ‘Step off, I got this.” Sometimes I ended up with stitches but I was still good.
To translate the Preamble to the US Constitution for all government officials Left/Right; Red/Blue; or whatever…
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union (Unification), establish Justice, (Fairness) insure domestic Tranquility (Calmness), provide for the common defense (Protection), promote the general Welfare (Wellbeing/Happiness) and secure the Blessings of Liberty (Freedom), to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
So where is the Unification, Fairness, Calmness, Protection (maybe over protection), Well Being/Happiness, Freedom? I look forward to your answers. Please post your answers to educate me and not denigrate me. Thank you advance for your input.