You’ve probably heard the old idea that the word for “crisis” in Chinese is a combination of the symbols for “danger” and “opportunity.”
Much like a lot of what you’ve probably seen on the internet over the years, it really isn’t true.
The COVID-19 outbreak going on across the nation and the world this week pretty clearly fits the generally-accepted definition of a crisis.
Most of the talk, both here and the rest of the internet, has focused on what is being taken away: the NCAA Tournament, the College World Series, the Frozen Four, the Ohio State Spring Game, and on and on.
For fans, it’s going to be jarring to miss out on the familiar mid-March routines of filling out a bracket and slyly keeping an eye on the Thursday and Friday afternoon games while at the office.
It may go from feeling unfortunate to downright unfair for players who have been working years – if not close to their entire lives – for their One Shining Moment. Instead of buzzer-beaters, their season ended suddenly and unceremoniously, off the court.
The moment many of them have dreamed of since watching NCAA Tournament games as kids may now never come.
And the pain of those players, real as it is, will pale in comparison to the people who will lose loved ones to this virus in the coming days and weeks.
This isn’t great for anyone, but to one degree or another, we’re all in this together.
It hasn’t looked like that at times this week. As usual, one group on social media has taken one position on the dangers, while another has taken the opposite.
This is what we do now: watch our cable news channel or read our preferred websites and then go on Twitter and say people who watch that other channel are idiots.
Read the comments on basically any article this week. People can’t wait to tell you why it’s wrong and you’re stupid if you believe it.
Almost no one’s opinion ever seems to change, and nothing is accomplished.
You can view the cancellation of these events as a cruel disaster to your TV-watching schedule. You can spend your days arguing with people who watch that other channel who just don’t get it!
Or you can turn off the stupid TV for a while and go do something useful.
You probably have elderly neighbors, or know people who have had health issues that could lead to complications if they contract the virus. Maybe you can help them like he is.
Perhaps you know a single parent of one of your kids’ friends who is going to have to figure out how to juggle work and taking care of their kid(s) while they’re out of school.
The next few weeks could create some financial hardships for small business owners or people who work in service industries (restaurants, barber shops, etc.). There’s a chance they’ll see their amount of business fall off a cliff as people stay home.
Some organizations are doing their part.
The NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they plan to compensate all Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse employees, hourly and event staff team members, as if every game and every event is still taking place.???
— Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) March 13, 2020
But there may be things you can do closer to home.
We can all give zero-interest loans to our favorite small businesses by buying their gift certificates. Seems brilliant. https://t.co/yZsxhaHfzN
— Josh Inglis (@Propllrhead) March 12, 2020
Some of the people who are struggling to make ends meet in even the best of times could have a particularly hard time now.
The #COVID19 pandemic will majorly impact Ohio's food banks, but they are still doing everything they can do to help those in need. To learn how you can donate, volunteer (especially for students looking for something to do!), or receive resources, visit https://t.co/e6NtM08uNk.
— State Senator Teresa Fedor (@teresa_fedor) March 12, 2020
Maybe someone is just a little freaked out and needs to know that they’re not going through all this by themselves.
I'll go first.
I have terrible anxiety.
It manifests in weird ways, sometimes for no real reason, and I'm pretty outstanding at hiding it.
Stress is no joke.
If all this is bothering you I hope you know you're not alone.— Jerod Smalley (@JerodNBC4) March 12, 2020
You don’t have to do everything, but maybe you can do something for someone else.
The next few weeks are going to be more than a little strange for most Americans.
No baseball, no spring football, no basketball, no hockey, no school… pretty much no anything. Most of us haven’t gone through anything remotely like this before.
But it’s possible to make this crisis into something else.
We tell ourselves, "If only I had the time, I am going to do that thing I have long put off or delayed."
This extraordinary moment (albeit for the worst possible reasons) might give some of us a chance to do that thing we have long put off or forgotten.https://t.co/4yatWSbw43
— Matt Zemek (@MattZemek) March 13, 2020
Check in on your neighbors. Give something to someone who can never pay you back. Find a way to support someone who really needs it right now.
Be smart about it, and follow the recommendations of health experts, but take this time and make the most of it.
An opportunity like this may only come along once in a lifetime.