8 Reasons People Might Be Bulk Shopping for TP / Walking in Someone Else's Shoes

Photo from 2017... Masks are just a part of our life.

Yesterday I had to go to the doctor for a potential sinus/ear infection (it turned out to be a double ear infection). I called ahead and they told me to come in and that when I got to the front door, I should get a mask at the desk and wear a mask in to my appointment. I would be sent directly into a room instead of the general waiting room. My doctor is in the local hospital. I have heard that they are using enormous numbers of masks, so I decided to wear one from home.

Full disclosure: my kid has cystic fibrosis. We keep masks on hand, both kid and adult sizes, at all times. We wear the masks when we fly, when we take Toe to clinic appointments, if he has to go on field trips, and whenever we feel they are necessary. I buy them when we run out, but always keep them on hand. I don't have a huge stockpile.

I put on a mask before I left the house (I might have been contagious. I certainly am coughing) and wore it in to the hospital/doctor's office. I have read on FB comments, especially from nurses, about seeing people around in the grocery store wearing face masks and how they shouldn't be buying masks up when hospitals need them so desperately right now. I kind of felt guilty bringing my own, but I would have felt even more guilty if I had used one of theirs, knowing I had a small stash at home. People certainly gave me strange looks as I drove to the hospital and walked in...

This got me thinking about judgement and compassion. This is a time when it is easy to judge ourselves or others for their actions. Does that person at the grocery store need a mask? (She might be from a single-parent household and have a cold but need groceries). Should that person who is coughing be out on the streets? (The person might be recovering from a cold and taking a walk, working hard to avoid any contact with other people). What about the office worker who might have infected her whole office? (She had no idea and the moment she knew she had been exposed, she self quarantined. She feels terrible but had no idea she could be a carrier). 

And I began thinking about those people buying toilet paper. Maybe they had a reason? I began to think about reasons someone might need to stock up... Ok, the obvious one, fear of the unknown is probably most likely. But here are some other reasons people might have gone crazy for the TP.

1. They are shopping for multiple families
2.  They are shopping for themselves and their neighbors
3. They run a pre-school or are taking care of their friends' kids
4. They were buying for work and for home (there are still workplaces that are open)
5. They have IBS
6. They have 8 (or 10) kids 
7. They have a puppy?
8.  They are concerned there will be a run on Kleenex and are stocking up as a twofer.

Ok, the last two are weak, but you get the idea. There are always going to be some people who act in ignorance, who take this situation too seriously or not seriously enough... I am going to try to cut people (and myself) some slack. I don't know what other people I see on the street are going through. I would like to believe that we are all doing the best we can in these crazy times. I certainly believe in educating yourself and taking this situation seriously, but I am trying to open myself to these times with compassion and understanding. We are a world community and we are all trying to do our part.

That's it for today. Be well. Use common sense. Stay home if you can. THANK YOU  to all of the people still working to help all of the rest of us be able to social distance. EVERYONE, wash your hands.

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