Written by Zach Grossfeld

I’m grateful to the men and women fighting for the freedoms of our country.

My generation, the Millenials, has not known the horrors of a World War.

Over a century ago, a generation was born that grew up during World War I and fought in World War II. They know the meaning of true sacrifice in a way that my generation may never know.

Right now, The United States of America and the planet as a whole, is fighting an enemy in the form of a disease. It moves quietly, needs no army, and attacks with little to no warning. The number one action we can take to overcome this enemy is social distancing.

No other strategy comes close.

Staying away from bars, restaurants, and concerts is the best way we know how to flatten the curve. Social distancing doesn’t feel like much of a strategy because, in a way, it’s doing nothing. Not grabbing drinks with a friend, not striking up a conversation with a stranger, not volunteering with the elderly feels like the opposite of what we crave in tough times.

We want to help others and stay connected.

James Clear talks about the Overreaction Paradox in a recent tweet:

When the result of taking effective action is that nothing happens, which makes your effort seem unnecessary and like an overreaction even if it was the right thing to do.

As a society, the better we execute social distancing the more the world will look the same.

Less people will die.

Fewer people will go to the hospital.

No medal, parade, or promotion awaits us on the other side.

Fortunately, we live in a time where the lack of in-person connection can be offset by technology. Facetime, texting, and phone calls all sit at our disposal. Check in with your friends. Call your mother. The distance between us may be further but that’s no reason to disconnect.

One of the most disturbing trends I’ve heard is people saying, “Oh, we’re good. It only affects the elderly and the sick.”

As if the elderly and people with preexisting conditions are the disposable rags of society. Admittedly, that revelation brought me relief. But I’m not using it as an excuse to go about my life in a normal way.

Staying in my apartment, washing my hands, and staying six feet from others helps stop the spread of disease to those who can’t handle it.

I’m a 26-year-old, fit male.

Chances are that if I contract COVID-19, I won’t land in the hospital or need intensive care.

As many are asymptomatic, I may be contagious as I’m typing this article.

As the generations before us shipped off to war, it’s our duty to stay at home, a kind tradeoff.

I’m well aware that social distancing doesn’t come without a heavy cost, societal and personal. Businesses shut down, paychecks get withheld, much of our interactions go on hold. I’m lucky enough to be able to work from home and my heart goes out to those who, have limited ways to make money. But I’d rather accept the cost of social distancing than the cost of lives we could have saved had we acted sooner.

We don’t have to wonder about the number. Much smarter people than me have mapped the lives that are lost when we avoid taking social distancing measures for just one day.

For most, social distancing is not in our short-term interest.

Humans suck at long-term thinking which is why many people are still packing the pub. Don’t take precaution because it feels good or is convenient.

Do it because you can.

Do it because it needs to be done.

And let others know to do it too.

You can’t control the actions of others, but you can control how you act and the information that you spread.

In the words of a School Superintendent:

In the end, it will be impossible to know if we overreacted or did too much, but it will be QUITE apparent if we under reacted or did too little.

Thank you to the frontline healthcare workers and medical professionals battling this pandemic.

We are grateful for your devotion and sacrifice.

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