DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical expert or even have a fully functioning brain. I bought $GME @ $435 and smoke sawdust. I resist forming an opinion on anything until my TV tells me what to think.
TLDR: You will be nervous and stressed, but will rarely be confronted. Be kind, ignore/avoid when able, and be ready to take your business elsewhere. Do not give Karen a viral moment.
I live in a red state that does not have draconian mask laws, but all of the local businesses still have a "mask required" sign on their doors. Everyone wears a mask everywhere I go, except me. I avoid pro-mask businesses like Costco because I know they will force a confrontation (saving a ton of $$$ too).
RELAX: You will feel uncomfortable for a while, waiting for Karen to start screaming at you. This will keep you on edge and under stress for weeks, so get used to it. Keep calm and carry on, because a confrontation rarely happens with men (sadly, women tend to be Karen magnets when alone). It has been months since I wore a mask and I still feel on edge when I enter a new business/place.
BE KIND: When asked to wear a mask, remember that the person asking likely hates wearing one too, but feel it's their job to compel you to comply. Even people who claim masks do not work will wear one to avoid peer pressure. A simple "No Thank You" or a redirect to comment about the weather usually works fine. Be ready to walk away or leave if the situation warrants it. Karen wants to make an example of you, do not give her a viral moment.
SADNESS: You will begin to feel sadness and pity for those around you that continue to wear a mask. I sit in church each Sunday, trying to focus on the Lord, but distracted by the Greek tragedy being played out in front of me. It is worse when you know many profess anti-mask sentiments in private but join the sheeple in public. True sadness will come as you see how conditioned the youth are, wearing their mask to "protect their family". I am sad, just writing this...
JOY: You may not know it, but you are making a difference. One by one, you will see more and more people go maskless and it will bring you a sense of joy. There may be eye contact, a knowing smile, or a head nod in passing. You will begin to regain confidence in your choices and live your life without fear.
I hope this is helpful, but I have to cut it short because my wife just walked into my office naked...got to go!
LOL amazing ending. But I can definitely relate to that, I am in SoCal and I never wear a mask and where I live and go in the stores/food places/etc it’s crazy to see how many people wear masks and I could definitely relate to the sadness part, every time I see it it’s like an anger/sadness and utter disbelief that we have all this knowledge at our fingertips but the vast majority of people refuse and I mean absolutely refuse to do any work themselves they get their news from Facebook/vice/buzzfeed all that crap. I’ve had grown men stare me down that were way bigger than me, but that’s one thing I can say as a small female I hold my head up high wherever I go, walking with confidence definitely helps, I also haven’t had any confrontations, just dirty looks LOL these people are so cowardly. Sorry hah but the people where I live are absolute cowards they jog and ride bikes in exercise with two masks on and they will be by themselves they drive in cars with face shields and two masks on and they are by their selfs, unfortunately I can’t help to laugh at them..I used to pity them, but when I started seeing them force children and I mean I seen babies even, being forced to wear masks (and baby face shields) where I live -sidenote asymptomatic is not a real thing for Covid- all that made me sick because it doesn’t affect children, it also made me realize the parents are terrified of their kids, parks and places little kids used to be are completely empty and deserted I feel like there’s no excuse not to know the survival rate now, and that literally masks do not WORK. I couldn’t tell you how many times people I’ve met/know have caught the China virus wearing a mask. Sorry it pisses me off every time I go out haha so I had to let out a little bit of a vent, but even in the very beginning was I scared of it until I started actually looking into it because nothing was making sense about the numbers and how bad they were trying to make Trump look bad about it saying it was his fault and that you’re a horrible person if you don’t wear a mask, and I already knew how the media was, pretty much anything the media says you have to look up for yourself because 99.97% it’s not going to be true what they’re saying, plus whatever happened to them spouting off about“my body my choice”? LOL I just feel like there’s no excuse now not to know what’s up, granted my entire generation is so indoctrinated that even one of my best friends I haven’t talk to in months is absolutely terrified of it still he won’t leave his home his hands are cracked and broken from washing them so much and from hand sanitizer. when he gets the mail he leaves it on the floor and Lysols the shit outta it and keeps it there for a week and call it the “ quarantine zone” and he does some other crazy things about covid I’m not gonna say lol but OP you’re way nicer then me for sure and I’m so happy to hear that other people are doing the same thing i’m just burnt out because in California it’s so bad here especially because I’m near LA you’ll have people walking around in like full hazmat suits out here Lolol. But for real tho OP I love this post it’s actually uplifting, I wish people here (where I live)thought like you (T ^ T)