I have heard all of the excuses.
“Wearing a mask makes me look scared.”
“It’s indicative of a sign of government control.”
“It looks stupid.”
You know what’s stupid? Thinking the mask is all about you. It’s not. It’s about protecting your loved ones and anyone who may come in close contact with you.
I was you at one time. I started wearing masks at my children’s pediatrician appointments, at speeches where other people with my disease were in attendance and on airplanes about a decade ago before wearing masks was “accepted.” I thought I looked stupid and fearful and that people must have thought I had a really horrible contagious disease. Adults gave me strange looks and children asked “What’s wrong with him, mommy?”
I used to explain myself to people I sat next to on airplanes. “I don’t have anything contagious. I just have cystic fibrosis, a chronic lung disease, which means any germs I catch, even a simple cold, could put me in the hospital and would be much more difficult for me to eliminate.” I don’t think it necessarily reassured my seatmate but it helped relax me.
Finally, I stopped explaining myself. I realized that I’d rather spend an hour or two wearing a mask and getting strange looks than possibly spending weeks sick at home or even in a hospital. I also realized I’d rather look like someone living in fear than exposing someone else to a sickness I could be unknowingly carrying who could then face the same horrifying consequences as me.
At one time or another we have all heard the term selflessness. It’s critical that it stop being just a term we memorized for a grammar school test and start being the way we live our lives.
Please wear the mask so others like me who are at high risk don’t have to wear a ventilator.
I promise I won’t give you a strange look or think that you’re living in fear. I’ll only be thinking one thing.
“Selfless.”
Thank you for saving lives.
Please share.
Thank you!
#WearTheMask
#ItsNotAboutYou
#SelflessnessWillSaveUs
#CFWarrior
#PleaseShare