Masks Debatable, but Wash Those Hands

Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Are there two more popular phrases in our world these days?

I’m certainly in favor of hand washing and using those personal hygiene practices that we all should have learned as children.  Most of my adult life I’ve been fascinated by those folks who use the restroom and leave without washing their hands. Yes, ladies as well as men…and at public restrooms, no less! What are you thinking? I’ve no clue how one exits a restroom without proper hand washing. It must be something either missing from their genetic make up, or maybe extra piece that makes them a superhero incapable of any germ infestation at all.  Either way, ya’ll still need to wash your hands!

Masks are a constant debate. Do they prevent infection? Are they really only suitable for the medical profession? What about the breathing implications for asthma patients? Are children okay without a mask? How do we avoid our face breaking out with “maskne”? What if I just don’t want to wear one? So many questions, so few answers.

I’m required to wear a mask at work, but that has been the only place I’ve consistently worn one until recently. Since I live in Florida, a blazing hot spot for positive Covid tests, I’ve begun to wear one in public more. I hate it. No way around it, they are very uncomfortable and sweaty in the Florida humidity. And my glasses fog up. But I do it.

Now our leaders are saying that the younger generation are the highest in positive cases. Well, yeah…so you open bars and beaches, they flock there. Makes sense to me. Social distancing? Not so likely. I work at a college…not looking forward to students returning to campus from all over the country, bringing whatever they’ve got with them. Young adults and teens are social beings for the most part and hopefully they will take to these new social requirements easily. Many feel they are young and invincible…just like we all did at that age! We all need to be open to these new changes and regulations in our world. We keep hearing the term “new normal”…time to embrace that, whatever it is!

Now…pull your mask up off your chin, and go wash your hands!