COVID19 Series

People mature, plants mature. The growth process takes a starting point. It takes patience and guidance to grow right. Self-control develops into a person’s identity.

People grow at different levels of maturity. Some stay infants all their lives, but others let their developing character set them apart for a distinct life.

There is not a more challenging time to grow at this stage of social growth. Many people have crises every day. We need something or someone strong to hang on to. There needs to be a purpose for what we do. We need to have a job. And for those who have no extra negative events in their lives – help those who do get through theirs. When you have yours, others will be there for you.

How to Mature in This Time of Chaos

• Change your world view of what is happening.
• Look at it from a broader perspective.
• Make it meaningful, turn it around.
• Choose life and avoid being paralyzed.
• Get serious about life, not flippant or careless.
• Know that the pandemic will go on for years.
• Prepare for an ongoing socioeconomic struggle.
• Learn better social skills
• Put your finances in order
• Read up on the economy from good sources.
• Take seriously the recommendations for health.
• Wear your mask appropriately.
• Keep social distance, but do not loose social interaction.
• Wash your hands, keep clean.

Finances

1. GoFundMe.com is a very good resource. Be true and accurate about your story. People listen to honest needs. Be specific on what you need. This is not a place to voice your grievances.
2. Disabled persons resources for disabled persons needs must be available when you need them. Use the local resources around you.
3. Benefits: Unemployment, sick leave and other benefits. Check out childcare solutions, find hidden sources of financial help.
4. Check the financial institution you use for what help they can give. Everyone wants to help ease this economic and financial crisis.
5. If you need government assistance, here is one source. https://covid19.ca.gov/get-financial-help/ Remember it is best to work on getting yourself financially healthy with your own efforts first.
6. Prioritize your bills, pay the most important ones first. Work on saving expenses, not money. Be aware of helping those around you. You may need them someday.
7. Do not panic. Remember the bad financial times in the past, there have been many. The great depression is dramatized in the “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Love that old 1947 movie!

Economy

Find and follow a favorite economist or someone who sees economic trends. Do not panic but be aware of what you need to do with your financial decisions. I have my favorites The Motley Fool, Rich Dad, The Wall Street Journal. Pick one and keep from getting confused. There is so much advice out now. I have a rule, open your eyes, take in what others advise and find a solid truth to hang on to that will not panic you.

Health Interventions

• Read up on what the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) has to say on the best way to keep yourself and your family healthy
• It is a crazy world to have freedom to do what we want and now to have to be requested, recommended, ordered to do what we should be doing anyway. Right? We all want to be hygienically healthy. We want our right to be healthy.
• For a while we may need use more protective measures to keep that healthy society. I know there are areas which cannot or will not be hygienically healthy. But it is our choice to keep our environment healthy. So, until all the areas are cleaned up perhaps, we will need to be told what to do for the sake of the few who are not in healthy situations. We all know of some. How can we maintain our health and help keep others healthy too?
• So, wear your masks, keep the recommended social distance and most importantly wash your hands. For as long as it takes.

Social Skills

I am most concerned about something I have not seen talked about much. Perhaps I am not in the right circles. But I have noticed a very significant “Fear in the Air”. For more information see my series that I started in September 2019.

When I am walking into a store, I try to smile at everyone, I try to touch only the products I need, I respect everyone’s space. In fact, I am known for giving a kind “stay away” look when others crowd my space! It started because I am a healthcare giver and I am very conscious of passing anything on to others, I expect the same from the people around me. I am going out of my way to be friendly and sociable, even though it has to be from a distance.

But I feel this fear in most people, it comes across so different, but it is there. Sometimes it comes across as:

• I do not care attitude, or a
• Laughing at you attitude or a
• I am just plain stressed out or
• An out and out panic.

The most important lesson from this COVID fear is to reach out to others. Treat others like you want to be treated. Treat other people like they deserve, with kindness and respect until they turn to friends, be vocal about your needs, go after them with effective strategies, not violence. Our socioeconomic health depends on it. Be brave and real.

We will get through this