The Upside to Wearing a Face-Mask
Amidst the daily gloom and despair I sometimes ask myself, What am I grateful for? This does not come naturally to me as an Ex-New Yorker raised to always see the dangers down every alleyway. When I find my mind spiraling down the alley of doom (often these days) I sometimes grasp onto a trick I learned from the Greater Good Science Center (listen to their podcast if you need a break from death, grief and heartache): Can you name three things you are grateful for each day?
As California led the nation this week in recommending that everyone wear face masks in public I found myself experiencing a strange delight in noticing the new array of creative face coverings people springing up on our sidewalks: red cowboy-style bandanas, hand crafted floral masks with the requisite fan folds, hippy hairbands refashioned as face masks complete with a yin-yang sign, one woman who crafted a mask covered with tiny penises (really), and your standard crumpled up medical mask — dug up from last fire season. I realized as I saw this array and as I found myself struggling to breathe without fogging up my glasses, that this sight actually made me feel a tiny bit safer — which lowered my blood pressure, which led to a tiny respite in my daily fight or flight state! Thank you Gavin Newsom!
Walking along the beach at Chrissy Field alone and at a safe distance from other masked humans I was struck by the wonderful way in which my new hand crafted face mask was keeping my face warm — who knew? Then I thought about Islamic women who wear the hijab and how I had always thought it oppressive for them to have to shield their faces — suddenly I thought wow! There’s an upside!
In addition to the fact that it may save your life or someone else’s beloved, here are my top ten reasons to love wearing your face mask:
1. You don’t have to wear makeup anymore. (The time and money saved!)
2. If you’re having a bad face day no one will know.
3. You can stop plucking those pesky chin hairs.
4. You can play cowboy or cowgirl — every single day.
5. You can finally win at poker.
6. You don’t have to fake smile when talking to people who annoy you.
7. No more wrinkles or double chin.
8. You can stop paying for your kids’ braces.
9. You can rob a bank and then blend right back into the crowd.
10. When you drive into a pole because your kids are bickering you can just tell the cop that your glasses fogged up because they really did.
What’s your favorite thing about wearing a face mask?
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