At the beginning of the pandemic, I was optimistic that people would rally together for a greater good. I imagined that in the midst of great peril we would put aside our differences to help each other understand our fellow human beings. I envisioned lovers talking to each other more often and with deeper meaning and neighbors conversing over fences for the first time about their deepest fears. It was a foolish dream, I know, but I tend to hope for the best, despite myself, when shit gets rough, because I am far more of a realist, borderline cynic, if I am honest with you, and escapism is an easier burden to bear. 

If I watch the news, fall for clickbait headlines, or go on Twitter, it seems the United States is self-immolating right before my eyes. In a free nation, culture is always going to be up for debate and struggle. And the results might be unsettling and chaotic and there is no simple solution. The pain of my young nation plays out loud all the time like an adolescent child trying to come to grips with the frustrating realities of our world and it’s hard to see the forest for the trees. We don’t know what the outcome will be. But, if we can put aside the narrative that powerful people want us to believe — the shit that divides instead of unites — we might be able to get through these volatile times. We can win.

So, how do we “win”? Well, the best way I can think of is to try and focus on the achievements closest to my life. I ask myself, where has the community around me succeeded? Did I play a role in their achievements? What can I do to elevate my own life? My friends know I’m notoriously hard on myself about certain things, and just like millions of people, I find it hard to avoid negativity. That fight or flight brain of ours works hard to keep us safe, and as a result, we are always on alert to see the bad before the good. And I have to check myself constantly to make sure I am not focusing on bullshit.

Luckily, my job as a cashier in a grocery store affords me the luxury of witnessing a group of people with great poise and care and sacrifice. They are the thin green line between people and food. Everyone has been thrust into a situation that no one saw coming, but yet, the burden of facing the masses fell on a select few. I’m proud to witness their resilience in the face of the angry and confused populace. I try my best to live up to their example. But grocery store workers aren’t the only ones holding it together.

I recently went into a 7Eleven to get some junk food and a woman named Deserii stood behind the plexiglass shield, wearing her mask, smiling from ear to ear as she joked around with me. Her disarming and sweet presence made me want to give her a hug and thank her for being warm when the world seems to be going cold. Our interaction lifted my spirit. It changed the trajectory of my day towards a more rewarding place. Positive and life-affirming exchanges like my short time with Deserii are happening all over despite the pandemic.

Essential Workers of all types have been going to work day in and day out for the entirety of the pandemic. Many of them exemplify the best parts of humankind. And when you interact with them and they are kind and generous of spirit, that’s a success for all of us. It shows that, perhaps, humanity isn’t completely falling apart like we see in the headlines. And maybe, just maybe, it’s worth trying to save what’s left. The doctors, nurses, gig workers, grocery store employees, tradesmen, police officers, factory workers, supply chain professionals, and any other hard-working, public-facing humans are keeping it together, they have to. And many are doing so with a smile and an open heart. They need your support. Everyone needs each other.

We can keep this engine going and move forward if we try our best to stick together. We are a resilient species. My thought is that we should look at our Essential Personnel as an example of what can be done and what we should do when faced with adversity, because we are greater than the sum of our differences, and we got this shit, I promise, I hope.