#NEVERPANICEVER

Scott Kelly is a Jersey guy.  He and his brother, Mark, are both retired NASA astronauts.  During Scott's career at NASA he spent a year living and working at the International Space Station.

As you likely have heard by now, unless you have been living under a rock, those of us who call New Jersey home are presently living life under a "shelter in place" order.  Governor Murphy issued Executive Order 107 on Saturday morning and it went into effect at 9:00 pm on Saturday.  To date, I have been nothing but impressed by the way our Governor and the various arms of State government have handled this unprecedented crisis.  Margaret and I watched his entire briefing/press conference on Saturday afternoon.  Never did he come across as anything other than the man in charge, reassuring his constituents as best as he could while not being afraid to tell us harsh truths.  

Back to Scott Kelly.  Saturday's New York Times included his Op-Ed piece, entitled "I Spent a Year in Space, and I Have Tips on Isolation to Share" in which he recounted a considerable amount of practical, easy-to-follow advice.  #1 on his list was "Go outside", which he pointed out is much easier to do here than it was during his year on the International Space Station.  

His piece is a fairly quick read.  If you have a moment or two today, then you might want to check it out.  Perhaps, once you read it, you might want to print it up and hang it on your fridge so you can refer back to it every now and again.  

Be careful out there - and - as importantly while we may find ourselves sharing space with our loved ones for considerably longer amounts of time than that to which we are normally accustomed, be careful in there too.  

Never does the Pop Pop theory of "one canoe" take on greater importance than it does during a crisis.  All of us has an oar but we all share space in just one, single canoe.  We either paddle in sync in the same direction and, together, reap the benefits of progress, or we do not.  Failing to do so embodies what the late, great Joanie K. used to refer to as "cutting your nose to spite your face".  Do not be that person.  

Before exploding at your spouse, your elderly parent, your young child, or your roommate, consider for just a moment that the intended target of your explosion might simply feel scared or overwhelmed or unable to fully understand what is happening presently.  Your goal must be to reduce that feeling in them, which will help them and will also help you.  You do that by (a) not panicking; and (b) helping them to not panic or, if they have already panicked, to stop.

#NEVERPANICEVER. 

-AK