𝗢𝗵, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗪𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗚𝗼!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to no places
let’s make that clear.
You’re home and you’ll stay put!

You have brains in your head.
You have internets in your WiFi
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose as long as you mean the swivel chair.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. (Although some of what you know might be fake news you know?) And YOU are the person who’ll decide which room to go.

You’ll look up and down streets from the windows. Look ‘em over with care. And you will say, “I don’t choose to go out coz I am so much safer here.” With your head full of brains and your WiFi full of Internets, you’re too smart to go down any street and worsen the problem beyond repair.

And you may not find any street open after all to stroll if you’re in lockdown. In that case, of course, it’s not really your choice, is it? Guess the balcony will have to do for taking in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and have frequently happened to people since December, not so great things that can make you so very sick.

You’ll need to stop these things and it’s okay to worry and stew. Better to be safe than sorry after shaking someone’s hands. Being brave has little to do with flexing sinew. Life can be boring for now. Boring is new brave!

Oh! The Places You won’t go!
You’ll be on your couch!
You’ll do some stretching in the living room.
You’ll be seeing some great Netflix shows
You’ll join the money heists and tiger kings to escape this collective human reality of far stranger things.
You will relax and forget all about the pants.
What’s the point of getting dressed when you’re not going anywhere.
You’ll FaceTime the whole gang. You’ll ask them if they are keeping safe and sane. Wherever you set up shop to work from home, you’ll struggle to be your usual efficient self. And that’s totally fine, you can get some rest instead. It’s a pandemic for heaven-sakes!

You’ll get mixed up in your internal monologue a lot. You’ll get mixed up with many strange feelings as the quarantine goes along. Happy, Sad, Hopeless, Optimistic, Determined oscillations. So be mindful of what you’re feeling. Allow yourself to process it. React with self care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Even without this terrible monster. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never forget to wash your hands for full 30 seconds. And never touch your face even if it’s itching real bad.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)
You’ll need to keep calm and sanitise
(90 percent alcohol minimum.)

Kid, you’ll move figurative mountains
So..be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Chimamanda or Bray or Shah Rukh Khan you’re Staying Home and Social Distancing.
Today is your day! And so is tomorrow.
Your mission is to help flatten the curve!
So stock up essentials but never stock pile
Breathe child, relax and don’t forget to keep some wine..we might be here a while!

My 2020 friendly take on Dr. Seuss’s work