It was less than two days ago, around one in the morning, that we decided that we needed to get back on home soil as soon as humanly possible.

We booked a flight for 6:50 that morning, set our alarm for a few hours from that moment, and tried to get a little sleep, or at least close our eyes before the potentially arduous journey.

I remember booking that flight and just thinking,“How did we get to this moment?”

———

Just a week prior we were in Mexico City, very aware of the rapid spread of Corona Virus, but perhaps not fully grasping the stranglehold it would take in places like Italy and the like.

In retrospect, we were still basking unintentionally in the seductive pool of naivety.

Insinuations and polite recommendations from governments quickly became panicked pronouncements - all of them tinged with uncertainty, yet veiled in undeniable worry.

All at once, from all sides, the message was clear.

Get home. Now.

And so we put on our masks, walked out the door, and headed back to Toronto with the understanding that we would need to self-isolate when we returned, but at least it was home.

Through all this, we were staying at our dear friend Megan’s place in Puerto Vallarta. I would be absolutely remiss not to mention what an incredible host she was through this. She was a fountain of stability and strength when we needed it.

———

Now, I’ve seen a ton of content written by travel bloggers about the Coronavirus, and some of it has been less than tasteful, while others have done a remarkable job. For some, it has been a clear traffic ploy, while for others it has been a way to connect with their audience, and to express something in a difficult time.

This might sound somewhat highfalutin, but the reason I’m writing this is simple for me - writing is the only way I know how to make sense of this world.

That’s why I wrote an article on Istanbul, during the height of the crisis there, and just after witnessing a bombing. An article that I’m humbled won me the 2019 Traverse Award for Best Opinion Piece.

Now, I’m not a scientist or a doctor, and I’m not writing anything that can be categorized as “right” or “wrong.”

I don’t care if a million people read this, or five do, but if what I’m writing here resonates with even one person, I will call this a victory.

I want to write now about what I’ve learned so far during this crisis, with the idea that what I have understood to this present moment may help others in future moments.

At the very least, I know it will provide a touch of clarity for me in a time where it feels like the fog of confusion is rolling in, and getting thicker by the moment.

This Is the Time for Radical Empathy

I think, rather accidentally, I summed up what I mean by “radical empathy” in a tweet that I wrote while still in Puerto Vallarta just a handful of days ago.