"This, too, shall pass."

I keep affirming that to myself.

I've got to, and it's got to, or I, and I suspect many others, just might lose our

sh*t,

and with it,

what's left of our marbles.

But, I repeat, "this, too, shall pass."

Like a giant fudgin' kidney stone leaving its host via a prolonged and painful process,

IT.

WILL.

PASS.

But, sadly, it will take with it

lives,

spouses,

parents,

siblings,

kids,

jobs,

livelihoods,

homes,

careers,

salaries,

businesses,

sanities,

mental health,

faith,

joy,

and stability -- both on an individual and country level.

"This too shall pass, but we cannot sit idly, and we sure as hell can't be recklessly sitting up in bars, restaurants, and beaches thinking that one person here or there won't make a difference.

You will make a difference.

You can make a difference.

One person at a time each of us can help curb the all-encompassing wrath of this pandemic;

by making the right choices,

by distancing and isolating,

by supporting local small businesses,

by shopping for the medically-compromised or fragile and for elderly neighbors,

by text supporting family and friends,

and by calming and loving your and all kids through it all.

This, too, shall pass, but what shouldn't pass without you seizing upon it is this novel opportunity for you to be a compassionate, selfless human by merely

listening,

adhering,

acting,

and

loving.

It feels hard.

It is hard.

But, you can do this, and I can, too, and eventually, this, too, shall pass.