Know When To Step Back

Yesterday, I was waiting
in the lobby of a hotel.
I was masked.
I’m double vaxxed.

There was a masked Mom with her newborn
also waiting.

A man walked into the lobby coughing.
He wasn’t masked.

I gave him a dirty look
and tapped my nose
(the universal sign
for wear your d*mn mask).

He smirked at me
and sat in the chair
next to the newborn.

At which point,
…I did nothing.

There was nothing to do.
The man knew he should be
wearing a mask.
He knew he was putting that sweet baby
at risk.
But legally, he had a right
to do exactly that.

We do what we can
to make the world
a better, safer, more wonderful place.

But when we can’t accomplish that,
we have to step back.
(And hope for the best.)

Know when a battle
is unwinnable.
Know when to stop fighting.