120. Thank You to the Essential Workers — and All Workers!!
– Musings of Dr. Jamie C. Hsu, 8.5.2021
During the pandemic, our lives were turned upside down and disrupted in an unimaginable manner. This pause and interruption of our normal life gave me an astonishing awareness of how much we depend on others, and how many honest and dedicated workers are around us. I have a deeper understanding of the “flow of life” and an appreciation for those who keep this flow going.
When the pandemic started and caused lockdowns everywhere, we very quickly realized how much we need essential workers to sustain our daily lives: the doctors and nurses who treat us and save lives, the delivery people who bring food and supplies to stores and our doorsteps, the utility technicians who bring power and water to our homes, the repairmen who solve our emergencies around the house, and the landscapers who keep our surroundings clean and pleasant. It is amazing how many people and services we need to maintain a relatively simple life.
Beyond these frontline workers, we rely on even more people to teach our kids, manage our finances, provide transportation and entertainment, and keep the infrastructure and communication networks open. Suddenly, the supply chain and support networks in our lives have become very visible to us. We understand how vulnerable we are in this connected world.
Another aspect of modern society that has become more visible is the wages and work ethic of these essential workers. In my interactions with them during these tough times, there is little resentment, price gouging, or resignation. They find various ways to keep their businesses and work going. We have seen a flourish of restaurant take-out services, landscape and home remodeling, remote personal training, and telehealth consultations. People have found ways to earn an honest day’s pay with an innovative honest day’s work. We have even had teenagers knock on our door to do cleaning work for us. I’m glad that the work ethic and can-do spirit are still strong in many corners of the world.
To the essential workers and all workers who have kept our lives moving, we salute you!!
向所有一線人員致敬
-作者 許俊宸博士
-中譯 薛乃綺
在疫情期間，我們的生活被難以想像的方式顛覆與破壞。當日常生活被暫停中斷時，讓我驚訝地意識到，原本我們是那麼依賴他人、還有我們周邊有如此多正直和敬業的工作者。我對”生命之流”有了更深的理解，也對那些讓生命之流持續進行的人們表達感激。
當大流行開始並導致各地封鎖時，我們很快了解到我們有多麼需要這些執行社會基礎功能的人員來維持日常生活。治療並拯救生命的醫生及護士；將食物及日用品送到店里和家門口的送貨員；供应水电的工程人员，房屋和院子的修护工人， 等等。让我意識到我們平平淡淡的生活需要仰賴如此多人的服務才能維持，這真是太讓人驚奇了！
除了這些一線人員，我們仰賴更多其他人來教導我們的孩子念書、為我們提供金融服務、提供交通和娛樂、並且保持基礎設施和通信網絡暢通。突然之間，我們生活中的供應鏈及支援網絡變得十分鮮明。我們了解到自己在這個互聯的世界裡是多麼脆弱。
而現代社會的現實面也變得更明顯，就是這些人員的基本工資以及職業道德。當我在這樣艱難的情況下，與他們打交道時，幾乎很少听到埋怨、哄抬薪資、或威脅辭職。他們找到各種方法來保持業務及工作能繼續進行。我們看到了餐館外賣服務、景觀及居家改裝、遠程個人培訓及線上醫療諮詢的蓬勃發展。這群人透過創新的服務，找到每天正當賺取工資的方法。甚至有年輕人来敲我们的家門來做清潔服務的工作。很高興看到職業道德和敢於做事的偉大精神，在這個世界的許多角落仍然存在。
请向那些讓我們生活能維持正常運轉的工作人員致敬！
