Communication can be verbal or non-verbal – broadcast or silent. The backbone of our information exchange is words.
We use words to impart love, hate, fear, intensity, and an untold variety of human emotions.
During this time of intensity maybe we should make an effort to use our words to receive information in a calm manner and disseminate knowledge with intelligent instruction.
Families and communities are built and sustained by people working together toward a common goal. During this current COVID-19 epidemic it is vitally important we all take a moment to remember that our children and youth are watching us the adults of our community.
Children listen to not only the words that we use but the tone and texture of our words. Even young babies can tell if a word is spoken in love or hate, fear or anger.
A publication Artful Thinkers – 9 Social Graces and Business Etiquette Tips for Building Relationships by Peter Drucker reminds us that ” The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.”
As small children we should be taught to listen, make eye contact, give someone our full attention, be on time, remember a person’s name, ignore rumors, avoid aggressive relationships, remember to say ‘thank-you’, attempt to understand different cultures, live up to our personal goals and most importantly acknowledge, love and respect ourselves and others.
The human brain stores more information than the Library of Congress and processes it faster than a computer. The better you treat your brain, the harder it will work for you, (WEBMD.COM UPFRONT)
The Guardian (July 23 2015) report studies that show children who live with fear…, can show wide-reaching effects. These range from psychological and emotional harm, and physical responses to educational and social impacts and relationship difficulties. Adverse childhood health experiences may affect attitudes and behaviors toward health and health care systems.
Young children are watching and listening as to how adults and parents handle this COVID-19 crisis. Children have an innate understand and healthy fear that this deadly virus threatens their lives and their family. They see grandparents and in some cases their parents admitted to the local hospital and never return. Everyone in the house uses the term ‘virus’ when talking about ‘how daddy died’ so ‘Little Johnny’ is well aware of how terrible COVID-19 is. “The virus took his daddy away – the virus killed daddy.”
As adults dealing with this raging surge of COVID-19 remember the Social Graces … for Building Relationships when we comfort our young children.
As a trusted guide we are mentoring our children through this COVID-19 crisis. Our children are borrowing our knowledge to help them survive – watching our character, competence and dedication. The Human Condition is a strong, generational saga. As we tutor our children we will guard them and do our best to keep them safe.
Scott Kelly floated around space in the International Space Station for a year and was obviously different from Mark Kelly, his identical twin – he was taller. (Science Oct 28, 2017)
The brothers pioneered a NASA Twins Study which compared Mark’s grounded lifestyle with Scott’s spaceflight journey. The scientists discovered an increase in Scott’s methylation rate – a process that turns gene activity on and off.
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“There are over 50,000 genes in the human genome, and when floating in zero gravity, the body is trying to manage that situation in new ways,” Chris Mason, one of the principal investigators of the Twin Study and a geneticist at Weill Cornell Medicine, told PBS NewsHour. “Both DNA and RNA were found to express genes in order to compensate for a lifestyle in space.”
DNA methylation modifies a gene, dictating whether or not expression of that gene can happen in the first place which leads to changes in the cell function. “And sometimes gene expression might produce cases where some risk factors and positive responses appear together,” Mason said.
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Epigenetics determines a cell’s specialization through (a) nature: (e.g., skin cell, blood cell, hair cell, liver cells, etc.) as a fetus develops into a baby through gene expression (active) or silencing (dormant); and (b) nurture: environmental stimuli can also cause genes to be turned off or turned on. (Epigenetics for Total Beginners 7/10/2019)
Epigenetics is everywhere. What you eat, where you live, who you interact with, when you sleep, how you exercise, even aging – all of these can eventually cause chemical modifications around the genes that will turn these genes on or off over time.
Coronaviruses are not a new family of viruses and are common in different species of animals including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. In humans, there are multiple strains that can cause mild respiratory symptoms or even the common cold. In years prior, other strains have been associated with SARS and MERS. (What is Coronavirus Disease COVID-19 Gabriella Borter)
COVID-19 is spread person-to-person among close contacts via respiratory droplets from a cough or sneeze. Touching infected surfaces and then touching your nose, mouth, or eyes, can also not only infect yourself but spread COVID-19.
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Proper hand hygiene and social distancing are critical to helping reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the prevention of other infectious diseases. (Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN President, American Nurses Association).
As of May 18, 2020, there were over 4.8 million global cases of COVID-19. 1.8 million people have recovered from the disease, where there had been around 316,700 deaths. The United States, Spain, and the United Kingdom have been the three countries hardest hit by the pandemic. (Statistica)
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the seventh known coronavirus to infect humans; its emergence makes in the third in recent years to cause widespread infectious disease, following the viruses responsible for SARS and MERS.
The basic biology of the COVID-19 virus is well understood, making it possible to decide which current drugs have a chance of success. (Statistica)
We know the basic biology of the virus and we have unraveled our own human basic biology and unfortunately, these two mechanisms have collided. We are weathering the battle albeit at a blistering toll on our health, financial, and social systems.
The 1.8 million people who have recovered from COVID-19 may carry a methylation tag on their DNA. This group also includes people who are asymptomatic and unaware that they were exposed to COVID-19. This tag, wrapping around the DNA double helix of COVID-19 survivors, could be transmitted to the next generation making them immune to the disease – unknowingly passing immunity to their children and possibly grandchildren.
Methylation’s chemical tags don’t interfere with DNA it influences the expression of DNA signaling an “on” or “off” switch. Think of these tags as “post-it” notes that highlight particular genes with information about whether they should be switched on or off. (Epigenetics – It’s not just genes that make us 7/29/2018)
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So, as our next generation appears on the scene, they may have an inherited immunity to COVID-19 that we do not have. We are facing this unbelievable, horrid, unseen-virus that attacks worldwide without mercy both young and old alike. It’s a formidable foe.
We’ll survive our time in this uncharted land but we’ll be changed just as Scott Kelly was changed after his time in the unknown of outer space.
Everyone is sequestered during this time of uncertainty. We as humans are helping each other in many ways to weather the unpredictable future. Using all of the parameters of social distancing and medical awareness we can offer helping hands to our fellow man.
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We can carry groceries to someone who can’t grocery shop for themselves.
Using our nimble hands to clean house for a person who has arthritis is a kind gesture.
Helping an elderly person with gardening by carrying a heavy pot is always welcome.
Mailing a letter for someone who is wheelchair bound is appreciated.
Assisting a single mother with childcare has untold advantages for mother and child.
Helping a young married couple settle into their new apartment may set them up for a positive path in life.
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Tutoring a high school student using a two-way computer lesson plan ensues uninterrupted grade-level learning
Sharing a ‘virtual hug’ to health care workers via video chat gives doctors and nurses a well-deserved reward.
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We extend our helping hands to make life easier for our fellow man.
National Nurses Day is designated to fall on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, whose birthday was May 12, 1820, and she is looked to as the foundational philosopher of modern nursing (Costco Connection May/2020).
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National Nurses Week begins May 6 with National Nurses Day and culminates with International Nurses Day on May 12. This is the most appropriate time to say thank you to not only nurses but all healthcare personnel for their tireless dedication at keeping us all safe and healthy.
Florence Nightingale was a trailblazing figure in nursing who greatly affected 19th and 20th-century policies for proper and life-saving medical care. She became known for her nightly hospital rounds to aid the wounded establishing her image as the “Lady with the Lamp.” Lady with the Her Nightingale Home and Training School for Nurses in England formalized secular nursing education, and her basic concepts regarding nursing remain applicable today.
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During this period of intense medical challenge fighting COVID-19, we have an opportunity to acknowledge the heroic work nurses and other healthcare workers are performing.
So, as we celebrate National Nurses Day and National Nurses Week let’s take this opportunity and show our appreciation!
Lines of Listening blog 
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