Thread by @girlmeetsgeek

The news about declared emergencies on #monkeypox shouldn't alarm, but they should remind us that we know better so we have to DO better.

Here's why... (thread)

First, let's talk about why #monkeypox is a bigger deal. (And no, it's not because it's deadly.) It's a big deal because this is a virus of inconvenience and frankly, while the human race can do amazing things, we haven't yet figured out how to deal with inconvenience...

Deadly viruses gain more attention. Viruses of inconvenience struggle with their messaging. "You'll be down for a week" is far less worrisome than, "you'll probably die and everyone will mourn you."

And we've never been good at preparing for worrisome viruses. (Ahem, #HPV.)

Even when tied to statistics around how viruses often leave little, itty-bitty breadcrumbs to signal to other viruses that they've left gifts, we don't seem to do much about them. We're seeing it in droves with #LongTermCOVID. And again, we see it with #HPV.

#Monkeypox will slowly mutate/develop- not to be deadly, but to be more problematic. And like a frog in slowly boiling water- we won't see it because it is actually already happening.

And we're totally and wholly unprepared and really, really tired. #PandemicFatigue

What can we do right now? Not stockpile toilet paper or hit up Costco for noodles, but practice pandemic acceptance.

An inconvenient virus makes life inconvenient sometimes. And the most affected are the vulnerable. Those already ill and those without many resources.

You can donate to food shelves, (especially toiletries.) You can ensure you are practicing good hand-washing.
You can wear a mask. (Eww, I know. I struggle, too.)
And you can be kinder and gentler to those who no doubt, will have to work through the entire pandemic.

If there's one thing we've learned, it's that we have NO control over any other entity but our own bodies and our own choices.

And the taste of sweet, sweet after-COVID (even though it's still very much here) freedom lingers on our tongue so even THINKING about #monkeypox blows

But, if we don't, we'll be in for another 3 years. And I'm in a pretty serious relationship with my gym, and sending my kids to school so I actually might perish.

How do you carry 100 buckets of water up the hill more efficiently? With help. Everyone lining up.

That's how.