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When I say this post comes from such a sincere place, it does. But it's time for a good ol' chit-chat, so put "self" aside and please open your ears and hearts.

Since March, when the pandemic changed our lives, wearing masks and gloves have been a thing. Masks, especially, are mandatory to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus. People have deemed themselves to be asymptomatic and symptomatic, and both are just as bad as the other. Each should be taken seriously.

I don't care how cool you think you are, how "clean" someone looks or how safe you may think you are. You or the other person could be carriers, not knowing so and possibly infecting others.

What does asymptomatic mean?

Someone who is asymptomatic has the infection but no symptoms and will not develop them later. Someone who is pre-symptomatic has the infection but doesn't have any symptoms yet.

Let me explain this. Someone could be carrying the virus and not show any symptoms. I mean, they could seem perfectly fine, but be highly contagious to others, spreading the virus. So guess what? If you aren't masking up and you are asymptomatic, you are spreading it to others. And how would you feel knowing that you were the carrier that ultimately got someone else, particularly someone that you love or are close with? Especially elderly people or others who are high risk. Simply wear your mask and keep everyone safe.

People can look fine but still be carrying the virus. And just because you are close with them, not wearing your mask thinking that they're OK when they aren't is not worth the risk of possibly getting sick. Is it worth getting your loved ones becoming sick, being in the hospital, alone and not allowed visitors?

I wanted to make this post for people who do not wear their masks around others. Please be considerate. Please think. You don't know who other people have been around, let alone who you've been exposed to.

I see it frequently — people wearing their masks below their nose, below their chin and not at all. That's not helping, y'all. We all want to get back to normal, but we have to each do our due diligence to ensure better results.

I get it. You're around your family and your friends, you want to seem normal, you want to be normal and not offend anyone by wearing a mask. But listen, put it on and be proud that you are putting it on. Do you not realize that people of color are dying more and suffering more from COVID-19? Is not wearing your mask and not practicing social distancing cool enough, or would you rather *seem cool by not wearing a mask and risking yourself and others?

The virus is serious. Over 200,000 people have died in the U.S. and millions of others have tested positive. It is serious. It's not something to play with or risk you or someone else’s life over. With the numbers of cases and hospitalizations currently going up, it's time to truly take it seriously.

The holidays are here, so please, I beg of you, do your part. What's worse, to say you did it and tried, or you just didn't care enough to try? If you say you love someone, protecting them is a part of that love. If you say you love you, protecting yourself is a part of that love. Masking up is simple, so please, do your part.