I wear a mask…

To protect you. I also wear it to protect those important to you. I wear it for whatever measure of protection it offers me.

I’m highly individualistic. That doesn’t mean you, or someone else, has to pay for me to be me. My mask can be as individual as I am. It allows you to be as individual as you. Does that make me socially conscious, like some might not think most Americans are? Good question. I don’t have an answer to it.

I know I don’t stand in any space alone. We are one. We are humanity. We are all valuable. I wish to consider the value of others equal to my own. Every single person. That happens in abstraction, of course. There’s nothing for that. I cannot meet, let alone really know, every human. But I have this idea of doing so and with it I can think and analogize and metaphorize and value the wonder, nature and potential of each, fellow human.

I think the only thing I dislike about masks is that I cannot smile as obviously you my fellow humans. I substitute though, with a kind gesture or word. Those are nice things to give.

We have so much potential to do well by one another. It is sorely disheartening to see too many descending, rather than ascending. I invite all of us to ascend, together.

I know masks are complicated for some. I know they are not an option for others. That makes it all the more important to wear one. It values them, it shows consideration and thoughtfulness for those with complications, issues that make a mask dangerous, or harmful.

I social distance, I wash my hands. I know, unfortunately, that we’re left to look after ourselves in most of this. I wish it was otherwise. I’ll look out for you as much as I can. I hope you’ll do it for as many others as you can.