Surviving this humidity (and the pandemic) together

Ah, the midwest humidity. As a California native, this phenomenon is one that goes frequently underrated in my book.

Since moving to Cincinnati, I have learned that only two things matter when the heat index surpasses 80: your patience and your willingness to survive.

Roscoe, traumatized, after we moved into our Cincinnati apartment on the hottest day of the year.

To live in this city during the peak of summer is a testament to not only your character, but also to your commitment to everything you know and love. It rattles you at your core and leaves you to question morally, are these conditions just? Immanuel Kant might think so.

For the feeble, the answer is undoubtedly no. But for the daring? Bring it on.

Turn up the AC, please

For the self-proclaimed warriors, those who gallantly continue living life while withstanding sky-high energy bills, there very well must be a reason for their madness.

My reason? (You may wonder, if you've made it this far!) Little Free Libraries.

There are more than 100,000 registered Little Free Library book-sharing boxes in 108 countries worldwide.

I didn't discover this vast library chain until my belongings found a home away from home, and I ventured out on my first solo walk in my new neighborhood.

Upon my revelation, I remember feeling astonished, surprised, but most importantly, relieved that I had finally found a place to sit down in the unbearable heat.

One of my favorite Little Free Libraries on Michigan Avenue.

So what's all the fuss about when it's just a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange? Well, it's not until quarantine that I discovered how critical these staples are to our community and —dare I? — our humanity.

A different kind of essential service

While free libraries may be closed due to concerns of the virus spreading, they do remain standing. And some, I am convinced, are saving the world.

Their storied history, although not advertised, dates back generations and is woven intricately throughout their sturdy and rugged details. It is this unique design that makes these libraries so special and powerful. The durable home-like structures give them the freedom to become so much more than a mere book swap.

Like now: over the past few months these sacred structures have become food pantries, toilet paper dispensaries and unconventional spin offs of a Jo'Ann Fabrics.

They're providing today's youth with modern-day resume boosters, and for the busy parent, a labor-intensive and philanthropic alternative to traditional summer camp.

And despite all odds, they are earning their own kind of presidential honor. Like this small, but mighty free library in Chicago that just won an award for championing the nonprofit's original mission to improve literacy.

And while today is the first cool day in Cincinnati in the past two weeks, I am strangely missing the humidity.

Isn't that odd? It is when times are tough and unbearable that we truly appreciate the moments that give us the most solace. They force us to sit down and take stock. What really matters?

Little Free Libraries are beacons of hope during pandemic

For me, it's this unbelievably strong network of little libraries that are stocking our shelves, making our hearts flutter (if only for a moment) and reminding us all that maybe life isn't so bad.

In fact, maybe this quarantine — and the new stories these libraries are sharing — are so much more powerful than anything we could have ever imagined or read.

Maybe we didn't really need that latest non-fiction read or scandalous celebrity biography to get us through this pandemic. What we really needed was a story of hope. One that is relatable and inspiring. One that brings us closer to our reality.

One that you won't find inside any library.

It is in this coveted story that our neighbors become our heroes and we are the protagonists responsible for taking charge and carrying our lives forward. The Little Free Libraries serve as our beacons of hope, keeping us agile as we navigate uncharted territory.

And even though this story is still being written, we already know the ending: we'll get through this together.

The spirit of these libraries will protect us and guide us when we've been tested, deprived of sleep, out of work and seemingly out of hope. They keep us alive, humble and optimistic.

So much so that we might just change for the better. We might stop seeking a different story and learn to embrace the one right before us - our own.

And once we decide what the premise for our day will be, our stories somehow become much easier and more enjoyable to write. Even through all the despair, uncertainty and humidity. We learn to live with, and maybe even begin to enjoy, what we cannot control.

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