Instant gratification is defined as “the desire to experience pleasure or fulfilment without delay or deferment.”
In other words, we human types want what we want when we want it and that means right now!
This, I believe, is at least part of the reason why some of us refuse to follow the friendly suggestions of our city, county, provincial, national and global experts as it pertains to COVID-19 and its spread.
We think we deserve a break.
We need to socialize. We want to go out and have some fun.
We just want to go back to normal.
Remember hearing stories from your grandparents or parents about how they sacrificed, delayed or cancelled things they really wanted or needed if they didn’t have cash to pay for it?
Past generations worked for what they wanted - whether that be a house, a car, a trip — but they didn’t expect to have it all at the same time.
We, however, just pull out the charge card and get what we want and worry about paying for it later.
We have gotten so spoiled we think we need and deserve what we desire immediately if not sooner.
I really think this is partially why any restrictions make us so uncomfortable.
Wales is currently in a full two-week lockdown again.
According to the BBC, residents are not allowed to gather indoors or outdoors with anyone not in their household.
Pubs, restaurants, hotels and any non-essential shops are ordered to close.
Politicians call it an effort to buy some time and get the cases down because if they don’t their medical community won’t be able to keep up.
Again, it is for two weeks.
It will be fascinating to see if it has a positive effect.
I can do a couple weeks of isolation but I really can’t imagine how we handle this lasting another year.
Sometimes I feel like Ontario Premier Doug Ford just can’t stomach giving us the bad news. Who wants to be the guy to cancel trick or treating or Christmas parades?
Everyone is always ready to shoot the messenger. Still, I would prefer the brutal truth and some tough regulations now than have this drag on endlessly.
What’s that saying? Short term pain for long-term gain.
The thing is we are not children. We need to get the unvarnished truth and then make it socially unacceptable not to comply with health guidelines.
The advice hasn’t really changed. It is stay home as much as possible, socially distance, wear a mask, wash your hands and don’t mingle in large social gatherings.
But, life happens, right? It's not so hard to do what we are supposed to on a lousy snowy day in February. It is far harder as we approach Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
This is supposed to be our time for fun and to relax a little, take some time away from work and enjoy each other’s company. We want some recreation. We need a boost. We want a reprieve.
Plus, we are so tired. Bone-weary tired. We are tired of hearing about it every single day and yet there’s nothing more important to talk about. What else matters if we can’t get beyond this pandemic?
Doing the right thing is exhausting. Worrying about those not doing what is required is also making us weary.
You think we are tired of it all now — can you imagine how discouraged and rundown we will all be if this is still going on through 2021?
Are we really still in this thing together? I hope so.
