Thursday, June 25, 2020 THE OKLAHOMA STANDARD Facebook
The Oklahoma Standard is a statewide initiative preserving and promoting a culture of caring citizens by encouraging Acts of Service, Honor, and Kindness. Sunday, the Oklahoma Health Department reported 478 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours. Another record-setting day, in a week of record-breaking days.
This spike alerts all of us to the necessity of keeping our guard up. The war with Covid-19 is far from over. I am concerned the 18-35-year-old age group affected by the current spike are socially active and are usually seen in large gatherings not wearing a mask.
I remember being in this age group. Wow! A period where I made poor choices celebrating my freedom as a young adult. A time where I slowly learned my actions affected others even when I didn’t think or considered it possible. Painful lessons with a high learning curve.
My hope today is someone in this age group learns from today’s blog post. Here in Oklahoma, we live by the Oklahoma Standard. It is something we all do in a crisis to assist others in times of need. It defines our culture and who we are as a community. Unfortunately, for many, it is only a phrase we hear on the news.
Acts of Service
Remember last week’s discussion? We can engage in acts of service in a variety of ways. It is finding a way to offer assistance; give someone a mask, pick up a grocery order, or go to the post office for someone. Better yet, use your talents to make a difference. Wearing a mask to protect others translates into an act of service.
Honor
Kindness
Kindness is a state of being, built on the quality of life in Oklahoma. It is part of our culture. Kindness is having a small group celebrating in the back yard or park, maintaining a safe distance in public and large group gatherings, and wearing a mask. Being kind is taking good care of yourself and taking safeguards to protect others.
When honor is used as a verb it generally means to admire or give respect. When applied to the standard respect is the preferred action. Showing respect isn’t hard it is being polite and kind. When we first moved to Oklahoma my husband and I often commented on how nice everyone was. Maintain a safe distance when you are out in public. It demonstrates you respect the people around you. It doesn’t mean you can’t speak, offer assistance, or step on another’s toes.
Kindness When Ellen DeGeneres closes her daytime talk show she says, “Be Kind.” Her trademark soared and her viewers adopted kindness in their lives as well. Everyone, together, makes the world a little better, just by following her examples. Kindness is a quality characterized by a friendly disposition, concern for others, and graciousness. Our behavior demonstrates our kindness in the way we treat others. Actions speak louder than words. Yes, it does!
Together We are in Phase three of our state’s economical reopening. Oklahomans need jobs and services. Going backward and shutting down again would most likely be a disaster. I am asking each of you to treat the Covid-19 crisis by taking personal responsibility to utilize the Oklahoma Standard.
Acts of service incorporate everything you do to stop the spread of this deadly virus. Because of this novel virus, we won’t know the answers on how to deal with Covid for months fading into years to come. The new normal today looks nothing like the old normal, and future normal is still science fiction. Each of us plays a part, and our actions have a direct impact on our family, friends, and community. It is for them we take extra responsibility to protect each other.
Honor To honor others we give respect to them and the community we live in. Respect means we wear a mask when we go shopping, to church, or gather in large groups. Wearing a mask protects others if you have Covid without symptoms. (And it can protect you too.) The majority of the 18-35 age group are the leaders of being asymptomatic carriers. The act of wearing a mask in public speaks volumes to the extent we respect others.
Today, there are 438 new positive cases of Covid-19. No one is exempt, many untested individuals carry the virus without having symptoms. Now is not the time to let our guard down. The numbers are double of what we saw in April. It was a time when most of us were fearful and we worked on quarantine adjustment together.
If you have questions, let’s have a conversation; email me, or leave a comment. Be proactive, share this post with others. Talk about the importance of the Oklahoma Standard with your family and friends. It’s not what we can’t do, it’s all about finding new ways to live without spreading Covid-19.
Four simple steps everyone can do: Wash your hands frequently, maintain a healthy distance from others, and avoid large gatherings, and when you are out in public wear a mask when engaging with others.
On behalf of myself and others who are at-high-risk, I thank you. Stay safe and stay at home.
