What a Time to Be Alive
“What a time to be alive.”
This is a common phrase in our society. It’s something we hear over and over again on endless refrain. Usually, it’s uttered when things are going really great or really not great -- it just so happens that life is a series of lows and highs with very few neutral experiences. However, today I utter the phrase more emphatically than usual.
Given the current circumstances, there is no better time to be physically distant than today.
The novel coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, is causing most of the world’s people to quarantine themselves in their homes or adopt practices like “social distancing” (henceforth, referred to as “physical distancing”), where we are asked to refrain from any physical interactions with other people to help contain an unforgiving disease that relentlessly strikes the most vulnerable among us. These are unprecedented times, with anxiety and uncertainty hounding us just as relentlessly as the virus itself.
People are rightfully concerned about the current state of affairs. This seems like an unparalleled low. Yet, it is far more than that alone.
As we enact the changes necessary to contain and ultimately fight off COVID-19, we should take into consideration how technologically prepared we truly are to adopt the physical distancing necessary to beat the virus and how our medical providers leaped to protect the lives of the patients they serve in-spite of the danger-- and we should be grateful.
Let me be clear. This pandemic is a tragedy, one that’s causing pain, fear, anger, and heartbreak in communities around the world. It is impossible to justify this hurt and loss or make it appear as a positive development.
Yet, when we are undergoing our most severe struggles, we need to reflect on the world we currently occupy and accurately place ourselves within it more than ever. Yes, it is unfortunate that we are going through a pandemic (that’s the understatement of the decade). However, there is no better time to go through such a monumental event than today.
Our society is incredibly well connected digitally, and we have made remarkable advancements in biotechnologies. It’s not to say that each of these don’t have their challenges. Digital connectivity has led to many of us feeling isolated and more lonely. We have inadequate and insufficient health infrastructure in place -- infrastructure that does not meet the needs of all humans equally. And at times, we can be outright selfish (evident by the absurd hoarding of toilet paper and masks).
Yet, what a time to be connected.
All of the social platforms that secured mainstream adoption in the last 10 years, even though they have been rightfully and recently criticized for their addictive behavior and isolative tendencies they drive, are now seeing a second life of sorts. Since last week, I have single-handedly experienced how platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Tik Tok, etc. have helped us all to remain connected, informed, and entertained.
It is remarkable.
Millions of people in our country are able to see, share, speak, and collaborate together from the comfort of their own homes. Likewise, many health and wellness businesses have been able to convert their operations to host “classes” virtually. And these folks are getting creative. Yogis are using Instagram Live to host yoga classes. Trainers are sharing some of their best workouts (Look at Joe Holder, my favorite health and wellness IG, OchoSystem example). Coaches and therapists are making themselves freely available to chat with people who need an ear, and friends and strangers alike are connecting with each other.
From a business perspective, most in the software and tech have been lucky enough to be able to continue our work remotely -- with some minor on-boarding pains, yes, but overall flying smoothly. All this is thanks to products from companies such as Zoom, Slack, Jira, and other cloud-based products that make our professional lives nearly seamless. I am really excited to see what new products are born from this tumultuous time, as humanity often shines brightest, and comes together in unity the most painlessly, when darkness surrounds.
And what a time for human health.
All things considered, the biotechnology and healthcare industries are doing a remarkable job of moving resources and knowledge around the globe to fight COVID-19. Consider it, when was the last time you heard that the world’s leading scientists, pharmaceutical companies, governments, and biotech companies were all working towards a solution to the same problem?
We have a scientist at BAYER who recently found a specific drug can help patients with recovery and agreeing to send this over to the US to help with our efforts. We have scientists that were able to develop a test that provides the results in 30 minutes when, merely a few weeks ago, the average turnaround time was 24hrs for each test result. In a matter of weeks, scientists were able to reduce the result time of a test by 97%.
Even though our healthcare system is completely unprepared to manage the influx of patients,married with our social media platforms, has been proven to help coordinate the effort to have people self-quarantine in record time. The spread of the correct information is vital in uncertain times. Our platforms have helped individuals and experts distribute factual information that at times the very institutions that are supposed to help us have not been able to do so. Consequently, our platforms have helped save the lives of countless people all because they are able to help deliver facts to the people that need it.
What a time to be alive.
The technologies that are currently in place have been a great catalyst for me and my mental health. At times when i have felt overwhelmed and confused, I have been able to reach out to my support system to address the matters at hand: my emotions.
Through many platforms, I’ve been able to connect with my friends, family, and strangers. I have been able to speak with friends about their feelings, share a laugh or two, and overall the information i am getting from health officials has helped my wife and I stay healthy while contributing to a healthy society with physical distancing.
The greatest lows bring with them -- force us to notice -- the greatest highs. What a time to be alive.
This too shall pass.
*Please note that this piece was originally authored on 3.28.2020 during a time where information is rapidly changing and evolving. I encourage you to stay up-to-date with reliable sources.
