When I Wear a Face Mask, It’s a Sign of Solidarity
It’s not just about me.
Wearing a face mask in public is one way I help take care of other people right now. There’s a possibility that I have COVID-19 and I may be a symptomatic, in the incubation stage (which could last for 14 days), or not have it at all. I’d rather err on the side of caution. I want to protect those around me: my neighbors, friends, and my family. It’s about simultaneously protecting my community and myself.
When I wear a mask, I am looking out for everyone, not just me. It’s not designed to protect me. It’s designed to protect whoever may be around me. I’m looking out for frontline workers who work in retail, grocery stores, and health care facilities. I’m trying to protect my family at home. By wearing my mask, I am slowing down the spread a little. If more people did, then the spread would slow down a lot.
When I first put on a mask, I felt a little weird. It was totally out of my comfort zone. I’ve never really worn one before (I don’t even wear masks on Halloween), but I knew that by doing this, I was doing my part to protect the public as much as I can and try to “flatten the curve.”
When I see others wearing their face masks, I see it as an act of solidarity and communal care. Without saying anything, in my mind, I hear them saying through their masks, “We are a community, and together, we will make it through this.”
