#Perspective January 14

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Arming yourself with PERSPECTIVE often becomes a great coping mechanism.

This month begins the nearly two-year journey with the COVID-19 pandemic. Locally in Robeson County we are dealing with surge of positive cases. On Monday almost 1,000 residents tested positive which shattered the previous daily record.

Almost all of us know that Spanish Flu took place over one hundred years ago, but it seems that many are unaware of its duration, how it ended, and what occurred after it ended. Knowing that can provide us PERSPECTIVE.

Patterns and previous experiences from past events can often provide us fantastic insight. Examining the Spanish Flu offers that lesson to all of us.

Facts about the Spanish Flu

1. In 1918, the world went through one of the deadliest pandemics in history – the Spanish flu. It lasted for 36 months ending in 1920.
2. It infected 500 million people worldwide.
3. The flu did not have its origin in Spain-they were just the first to report it. Many other countries initially suppressed their numbers because of their involvement in WWI
4. Spanish Flu went thru three major waves with the second being the deadliest
5. This pandemic resulted in stores shutting down, schools were closed, the economy suffered, and public gatherings of multiple people were prohibited.
6. Before the second wave hit America reopened like normal-before the third wave the country took a more gradual reopening
7. After the Spanish Flu ended the life expectancy of people in America increased.
8. People in Western Countries became disillusioned with medical science and in the Roaring 20’s turned to Alternative Medicine.
9. 100 years ago, the Spanish Flu was democratic it impacted everybody-social and financial status didn’t immunize anyone.
10. After the Spanish Flu ended there was pent up demand for many things including social change-women in America got the right to vote. The decade following the end was referred to as the Roaring 20’s

Perspective Points

1. COVID-19 was discovered in December 2019 and is still with us in January 2022 beginning its 3rd year.
2. As of January 2022, it has infected 310,000 million people worldwide.
3. This strain was first reported in Wuhan, China
4. Covid-19 has experienced five waves How Many Waves Will the Pandemic Have? – RateMDs Health News
5. At times this pandemic resulted in stores shutting down, schools were closed, the economy suffered, and public gatherings of multiple people were prohibited.
6. Trust in science may divide many today
7. COVID did impact some socio-economic classes more severe than others.
8. There is a loud cry in this country for social change.

Not sure what the decade after the eventual end of COVID will bring us.

Sometimes having PERSPECTIVE about past events can give us hope. That PERSPECTIVE also requires patience and perseverance.