It is a very common human trait to assume that the way things are now is the way they will continue to be indefinitely. It’s why many of us make rash decisions in the early stages of relationships, and why so few of us prepare for future disasters even when we have the means to.

And it also means that many of us assume that when things are bad, that, too, is going to go on forever.

As things get increasingly bleak in the coming weeks, it is easy to fall into the habit of assuming that this is where we will be forever.

I do not believe that that is an accurate read on the situation, however.

Even in the worst, most horrific nightmare scenario, the one with millions of deaths, COVID-19 doesn’t last forever. Even if we find ourselves in a depression — those, too, we’ve gotten out of.

I’m not saying this to minimize the awfulness of now: it is awful, and some of the worst impacts are irreparable.

But it will, nevertheless, not be this way forever.