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Who came up with the term social distancing?  Is that really what is needed today to avoid getting the coronavirus?  I think as a society we were already pretty socially distant.  What with social media keeping us at home and on our computers more than we were out engaging with other people, I somehow don’t think that what we need more of is social distancing.  What they are really talking about is the need for physical distancing.  We need to keep 6 feet away from others so we won’t contract or pass on the virus.  That is a physical distance that can be measured out or estimated.  That makes sense to me.  That I can and will do.  I feel this covid-19 pandemic has helped offset some of the social distancing present in our society.    More people are reaching out to people and checking in on them to make sure they are all right.  My husband and I have been going on frequent walks since we’ve been housebound and see many neighbors we don’t usually see.  We share greetings and encouragement (of course from 6 feet or more away), and there has been a greater feeling of community than we have ever experienced before.  So, I believe in this time of physical distancing we are actually becoming more socially close. 

I wonder why ‘social distancing’ was used.  It almost seems like it’s being encouraged, but why?  In a time of fear and chaos, we need to be more socially connected, not distant.  I don’t tend to swing to the paranoid side of things, but it feels like we are being led to be socially distant maybe to be further distracted from what is really going on around us.  Yes there is a deadly virus and we have to be cautious and take every safety precaution we can.  We also have to stay connected to people around us.  Check on the people in your life, particularly those living on their own.  Maybe even video chat with them.  Lets help people feel connected and cared for, not more isolated and distant.  And, don’t lose sight of what’s going on in the world.  Why are we being encouraged to be socially distant versus physically distant?  Words are powerful.  I don’t think this term was coined innocently.  I believe the idea was that in social situations, such as shopping, we need to watch and keep our safe distance of 6 feet from others, but find it a suspicious choice of wording.  I say, stay alert, stay physically distant, but definitely stay socially connected with others.