Physical Distance Doesn't Require Social Distance

Returning from Croatia on Friday, March 13, I was told by the Scott County Health Department that self-quarantine was not necessary. After my experience at O'Hare Airport – where border agents were totally unprepared for the onslaught of returning passengers, who were shoulder to shoulder for hours – I decided to self-quarantine anyway.

A week later, just about everyone is quarantined. The silver lining in this awful situation is that this virus has provided me with time to slow down, reflect, rest, read and pray - after an all-too-busy stretch. I feel grateful that I have a job where I can teach online and continue to be productive from home.

In the midst of this chaos, I am sharpening my skills in online teaching and communication – something I needed to do anyway. It has provided me with ample time for taking long walks, doing an hour of yoga per day and stretching, lifting weights and doing physical therapy for my shoulder. I feel healthier and more well-rested than I have for months.

None of this is enough. In these times, it is more important than ever that we learn to be a neighbor to each other. While we are being forced to be physically distant, that does not mean we have to be socially distant. In fact, social connections are more important than ever in times of physical distancing.

My wife and I have been making an intentional practice of making several phone calls to neighbors, friends and family every day. Of course, first on that list is our five grandkids, who are very young and have no idea what is happening. I do think they are happy that their moms and dads are staying home with them each day instead of dropping them off in daycare or preschool, so that is another silver lining.

Of course, not everyone is so lucky. For the many people who are isolated in unhealthy family situations, who are suffering illness, who are prone to depression and anxiety, and who are on the front lines of fighting this virus, this situation is a disaster. For these reasons, it is necessary for us to be socially connected with our neighbors, friends and relatives despite the physical isolation that is quite necessary.

One of the ways that I reached out to my students was to send each of them an individual email asking them to give me a phone call. Many of these phone calls turned into long conversations as the students opened up about the challenges they are facing at work and at home. It helped me to connect with my students in ways that online communication does not.

This virus is teaching us that we must find ways to keep physical distances without distancing ourselves socially. The more we lock our doors and close our borders, the more we realize just how inter-connected we are. As human beings, we are no longer separated by borders. We are connected by the very nature of being human, and we need our social connections more than ever.

–Dan Ebener, DBA
SAU Management Professor