"You don't know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” The line obviously applies to climate change—people could see what was happening even way back in the ‘70s—although instead of putting up parking lots it seems we’re more intent on building warships and hypersonic missiles. But these lyrics can also apply to our current global health situation. Health seems to be the first thing we forget to be grateful for, but wow don’t we miss it when it’s gone. We’re experiencing it on a massive scale with the coronavirus. Remember when we lived in healthy bliss?

Therein lies the biggest takeaway of all this. This outbreak proves our actions and habits affect others. Community spread is happening, and more than 90 countries are now infected. Two things are important here: first, we will prevail. Our species has conquered much worse. Panic and dismay don’t solve anything. We need to keep it together. Second, we must be considerate of others. Hygiene is finally being given some importance, but it goes beyond that. We share this planet with a lot of other life—it’s not just us. It’s a big world. And it is indeed a paradise. Let’s recognize we are an integral piece of it while doing our part to maintain and improve it.