I have been thinking about how to sustain a sense of purpose. Being busy is good, but you can't be busy all day, every day. To be sure, this is not a unique thought. The numerous posts on this topic could allow you to offer meta-purpose, finding purpose by helping others find meaning. I have started taking the time to revisit some thoughts on what makes me, me. Critical thinking, focusing on data, and making the least bad choices even under pressure, all notions that are well-tread territory in history and thought. Fortunately for me (and for better or worse for you), this email ends up being an outlet that offloads my family from having to hear my mental wanderings on these topics...
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https://www.ft.com/coronavirus-latest
It appears we are turning right. The slope is still upwards. Day 30 is seemingly the next benchmark for us "western" countries... It is striking how the patterns are so similar.
Controlling fear and uncertainty with data and critical thinking is paramount. There still an enormous amount of concern over appropriate protection (masks, gloves, eye covering, etc.) I see it on social media and the news - somehow implying that the CDC is offering advice based on political concerns, the desire not avoid panic, and/or based on what is available. Here is the best data I can find from a non-U.S. organization- the WHO. PLEASE FOCUS ON DATA and TELL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO FOCUS ON DATA.
Advice on community use of masks:
https://www.who.int/publications-detail/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)-outbreak
Advice on PPE for healthcare workers:
https://www.who.int/publications-detail/infection-prevention-and-control-during-health-care-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected-20200125
All the better reason to understand the PPE guidance since it appears there is a fair number of asymptomatic spreaders. Here is the CDC head, Dr. Redfield on some updated observations:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/31/824155179/cdc-director-on-models-for-the-months-to-come-this-virus-is-going-to-be-with-us
A wonderfully written editorial by a resident physician on working and working in a COVID-world. His takeaway on being grateful for having purpose and control resonated with me (hence the comments above)
And, in follow up, more commentary on the psychology of TP hoarding. Hint, hint: it is all about control and purpose in a time of uncertainty.
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/03/why-toilet-paper-a-doctor-tries-to-explain.html
A technical article on vaccine development in the New England Journal of Medicine shared by one of our OCMO colleagues
When you have a health care system driven by the economics of elective procedures and private insurers that subsidize the overhead for the rest of the system, an epidemic that reduces case mix and has ONLY high complexity has some predictable economic impact
https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/01/slashes-benefits-for-doctors-coronavirus/
Two videos shared by Stuart. I have only focused on static infographics, but he has opened up the world of YouTube videos on this topic for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdoN_XsHWBI
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Bonus Round - Finding Purpose edition
The more I read, the more I am impressed by the internal drive and purpose of First-wave feminists. Not only did they have to introduce the entire notion of equal rights for women, but they were also competing in a political landscape that had a broad range of advocates for economic and other social change. Thinking about the work required to break the societal norms of the 19th century is exhausting. Competing with similarly-minded people who had different priorities was probably maddening. The Grimke sisters are who stand out the most in my mind, but my most recent reading biases me.
Background:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimk%C3%A9_sisters
The book on the Grimkes:
https://www.amazon.com/Invention-Wings-Sue-Monk-Kidd/dp/0143121707
Kirkpatrick Sale is a neo-Luddite who is very concerned about the dehumanization of modern technology, big business, and big politics. He is on the extreme side of the current political spectrum. However, his book Rebels Against the Future was very eye-opening for a technophile like me. While I might disagree with his beliefs, he clearly feels that humans derive the most significant purpose from small-scale, local, and non-tech-enabled work.
Background:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkpatrick_Sale
Book:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/864008.Rebels_Against_the_Future
Interview:
https://www.wired.com/1995/06/saleskelly/
Clean hands and sharp minds,
Adam