Social distancing already put into practice

Those who know me well know that I’m a hugger by nature, and family and friends look forward to a healthy embrace from me. I learned early on that some people don’t like, need or want to be hugged, and you learn to leave them alone or simply greet them with a happy smile. I’m pretty good at reading body language, and it’s important not to violate the personal space of those who cherish it.

With all the precautions we are now being encouraged to take to help ebb the tide of the coronavirus, one practice that is getting a lot of attention is social distancing — keeping yourself about six feet away from the next person in a public environment.

I got to practice this on the weekend when I attended a Bible camp annual meeting at a church in Appleton. The room was set up so we could all sit in chairs spaced about six feet apart, facing a large screen to watch a Powerpoint presentation. Normally we gather around tables, visit and have lunch together, but all that got pared back for this event.

Nothing shortens a meeting like leaving no room or time to visit.

I’ve been social distancing before they even started calling it that. Although many people are just now understanding the concept, I can honestly say I’ve been embracing the practice for a long time. The sad part is that no one else has been following my lead.

Many is the time I have been pulling into a mostly empty parking lot, hoping to not have to be near others. It never ceases to amaze me that I can pull up into a spot and hope to cross over the line to the next parking spot so that I can pull out instead of back out — and someone will drive right into that spot. There can be no other cars on that side, but the person feels compelled to align the front of their car with mine. Apparently it brings some sense of order to their world while being a major source of irritation in mine.

Shopping in a supermarket brings along challenges as well. I can finally find the aisle I need to be in — only to find a fellow shopper with a cart parked indefinitely in front of the one product I need from that shelf. I’m perplexed at how much decision-making needs to go through that person’s mind before moving on and leaving me clear passage to my desired product. The invention of the large shopping cart is no one’s friend. Why do people think they are the only ones in the store? Why do they think they can park the cart in the middle of the aisle, blocking passage in both directions?

One thing I will never understand is restroom behavior. I can be in a restroom that has 10 or more stalls and pick the one farthest away from the door, sinks and areas of constant traffic flow — and someone will inevitably pick the stall right next to mine. Seriously, what possesses someone to do that? Is there some deep psychological need for that kind of closeness? Do people not understand the concept of what a bathroom can be used for, especially in a restaurant, after a large spicy meal?

I suppose this will be a year of great realizations. As a society, we will either teach ourselves to be aware of others, concerned for others and compassionate about the needs of others, or we will learn nothing about the graciousness of social distancing and go back to our bad behaviors and selfishly muddle on through life.

Hope springs eternal, and I do so want to believe that people will finally take notice of the rest of us inhabiting this planet. I’m hopeful people will change their selfish ways, but I’m not putting any money on it.