Friends: our country is at critical juncture. We must act now, as a team, or it will be like a war. Most of you have never been in a war zone. It is soul-destroying. Your discomfort today will feel like a picnic. But we can stop it. Here is what you must do right now. /1
1. Quit the denial. This global pandemic is a world-changing event, of equal magnitude to a war. It is in motion now. Yes, that is scary. Yes, it is normal to want to deny this is happening. But if you deny or dismiss it, you will likely act in ways that will make it worse. /2
2. Maintain total compliance with the Public Health guidelines. These emergency measures are to prevent a war-like disaster from sweeping our cities. Non-compliance is like being a wartime traitor. Don't betray our country. Don't collaborate with COVID-19. /3
3. No jungle gyms. No playdates. No dinner parties. Those returning from abroad, not even a 10 minute walk outside. If you break ranks with us, you will have collaborated with the enemy. Embrace your discomfort. Embrace the call of sacrifice. /4
4. Look starkly at the thing you fear. It will steel your resolve. If we fail, our society will be overrun with the smell of death. Our economy will be annihilated. Your fear of what is coming is preventing you from stopping what it coming. Be brave now. /5
5. Now let go. Let go of your urgent need to know what will happen next, and when things will go back to normal. Let go of your need for the world to be as it was. The world has already irreversibly changed. Surrender your denial and embrace radical acceptance. /6
6. Prepare yourself for a good hard fight. We will need to be tough and resilient for a sustained period. Expect to fight hard for the next 12-18 months. Be pleasantly surprised if we escape sooner. Know that our success depends on your resolve and loyalty to the team. /7
7. From a place of radical acceptance, build a safe & sane plan for your family that will work for months. Trust that your current discomfort will dissipate. Trust that you can & will adjust to sustained crisis conditions. There is hope and joy on the other side of acceptance. /8
Finally, set aside all partisanship. We have one enemy, and it is lethal. And so, we must be one team. United, fearless, and loyal. Do not break ranks. Be faithful and true. Hold your position. /x
