Wash Your Hands Again

After 9-11, the question emerged, how do we get back to work? Sure there was a lot of short term (and important) work in putting our lives (country) back together, but we soon emerged to a new normal. And we had to get back to work.

COVID-19 presents the same problem. While we are in the midst of hand-wringing, wondering what we can do short of washing our hands seven times before lunch, at some point we have to get back to work. There is no basketball, no hockey, no soccer, perhaps a three year old football game on ESPN. At some point we have to get back to work.

And, what does it look like when we get back to work. While we are thinking about washing our hands one more time, could we think about our first moves to the new normal. We have changed our routines. Handshakes become chicken wings to the toe tap to more distance greetings. Some things we have adapted will become permanent.

Those permanent adaptations will seem clumsy at first, just not the same, but permanent nonetheless. And the clumsiness will become practiced, and those among us who practice will become competent at a new way. And the new way will improve on par with the old way. And, we will wonder what took us so long to get over our resistance.

So, what are you thinking about as you wash your hands, again?

3 thoughts on “Wash Your Hands Again

  1. Susan Cary-Hanson

    I’m hoping that with continued innovation more products that NOT require our hands to utilize and will offer other alternatives – mobile app, foot pedal, etc. I’m not an inventor, however, I agree changes will occur and hopefully some of the innovations will be around community/public health aspects.

    Reply
  2. David Lowe

    I shortened this a little for easier sharing on Facebook with others. Keep up the great communication and great to see you’re adapting, as well!

    ………
    After 9-11, the question emerged, how do we get back to work? COVID-19 presents the same problem. At some point we have to get back to work. And, what does it look like when we get back to work? We have changed our routines. Some things we have adapted will become permanent. Those permanent adaptations will seem clumsy at first, just not the same, but permanent nonetheless. And the clumsiness will become practiced, and those among us who practice will become competent at a new way. And the new way will improve on par with the old way. And, we will wonder what took us so long to get over our resistance.

    – Adapted from Tom Foster

    Reply

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