After Covid-19
Life after Covid-19 is something we will all have to deal with. Like the aftermath of 9-11, the Great Recession, or the Great Depression the world is going to be different. What we make of that world, what we do with this opportunity, is entirely up to us.
Right now, if you are following the Stay-At-Home guidelines, you are probably sitting around feeling stressed, scared, worried about friends and family, finances, and wondering what new apocalyptic event is going to come across your newsfeed in the next five minutes.
Before I pull out my inner Cherisse (if you’ve read my SMAFU novels you know what I’m saying, if not then go buy my books and enjoy CLICK HERE!) let me put some of this into perspective:
Covid-19 is serious but the world isn’t ending
Covid-19 is a highly contagious virus that is particularly fatal to the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. That does not mean young, or otherwise healthy, individuals are immune. That does not mean that young people shouldn’t worry about Covid-19 as contracting the virus means you can spread the virus to a more vulnerable populace. The following link provides a relatively good breakdown of who is getting Covid-19 by age:
Young People Get Sick Too
The world’s economy is taking a hit but the world isn’t ending
When I’m not writing SMAFU or FBoM novels, I’m a Financial Advisor. I’ve been doing it for a long time and I’ve watched the world’s financial markets melt down in three, or is it four, events. In each world ending financial crisis the news has screamed the words “collapse”, and the government has thrown money on the table like a drunk virgin in a strip club. Each time the markets have recovered and gone on to make new highs. Stores have continued to sell and consumers have continued to buy. Banks have shut down and new ones have opened to take their place. The world kept spinning and people kept eating. This time isn’t any different. The economy will recover and this will become a footnote in a history book to look back upon when the next economic crisis hits. If things are tough for you, if finances are tight, I am truly sorry but you will get through this. Tomorrow will come and life will go on. This is a blip in your life and you’ll make it through.
Neither money nor bullets can stop a virus, but you can
Right now a big part of the fear in the air, and coming from government officials, is sub-conscious. Let’s face it, men like enemies we can see, shoot, hit, or buy-off. A virus is none of those things and that’s what makes it “scary”. A virus isn’t afraid of bullets or bombs, can’t be intimidated by massive defense budgets, and it certainly doesn’t give a rat’s ass about foreign aid. Many of the responses to this virus, from every walk of government as well as individuals, stems from a basic fear of not knowing what to do. But you know what? If we listen to professionals that are trained in virology and disease containment instead of politicians and news organizations trying to increase their viewership numbers, we do know what to do. Wash your hands, practice social distancing, and isolate yourself if you get sick. Here are the guidelines from the Center for Disease control. Once you remove the fear with real information your life will get better, I promise:
Guidelines From The CDC
Now let’s talk about the future because the world is not ending
This is a unique opportunity that could draw the world closer as a civilization. After all we are all in this together. I wish we could count on our respective governments to unite, support each other, put away their guns, bombs, embargos, hate, and financial self-interest but we all know that’s unlikely. For many of us, however, living in democratic societies, there’s a dirty little secret that our governments really want us to forget. WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT. Politicians work for us. Our health, commerce, military, and other important government infrastructures exist to protect and otherwise carry out the will of their people.
As citizens of our respective nations, we are culpable in every bombing, military action, and war our politicians involve our military in. So too are we culpable for not insisting upon peace, cooperation, and shared purpose for a better world.
We, today, through social media have a rare opportunity to insist on the aforementioned better world. We have a rare opportunity to tell our respective governments that we are tired of fighting and we want peace, prosperity, and equality not only for ourselves but for the entire world. Take this moment in history when we are all fighting an invisible enemy that doesn’t care about political ideology, religious ideology, or military strength, to work together and learn to appreciate our differences and respect our ways of life. Let’s use this moment to create a world where caring for someone in Africa is just as important as caring for someone in New York or London.
We have the power to do it, after all we are the Government.
(Jumping off my soapbox)
As Promised, what would Cherisse do?
Some of the readers of my SMAFU novels have used the term WWCD (What Would Cherisse Do) as a fun play on the What Would Jesus Do craze that went on a few years ago. I find it humorous but you know what? It’s a good question in this situation. The character is a ninety-year-old woman that has seen a lot, done a lot, and never fails to find opportunities to share her wisdom to help improve the lives of those she decides to love. What would she do in the face of a pandemic? She’d live her life of course. She’s ninety darlings, there was never a guarantee of tomorrow.
She’d follow all of the social distancing guidelines (even if that meant having to communicate with her boyfriends via text) and find ways stay involved with the people she loved even if it required getting a bullhorn and yelling across the street to check in on her neighbors.
She’d make tea, eat cookies, crochet doilies, and make sure her friends and neighbors remembered that this stress would pass but the words that were said to one another, the anger that might leak out due to frustration and tension, would remain unless steps were taken to repair the damage which occurred. Reminders to think before opening one’s mouth, understanding the fears your partner might have and not even know, and suggestions to step back and try and appreciate that we are all doing the best that we can during this rough time, would find their way into emails and facebook posts (if Cherisse ever gets around to getting a facebook page of course).
Cherisse would probably even start a newsletter reminding her friends that in this moment you have a choice to use this experience to become closer, stronger, and more loving towards one another and remember what brought you together as a family. She may even suggest breaking out all of those old photographs you’ve stored in your attic and taking the opportunity to organize them while taking a walk down memory lane.
As for social distancing between partners, well this is Cherisse after all. If neither of you are sick, haven’t been exposed to the virus, and aren’t avoiding each other 24/7 than put the kids to bed early, pour yourselves some wine, snuggle up and make love like there’s no tomorrow.
Cherisse doesn’t really exist, at least I will never disclose her true origin, but as her creator I’ll share a belief I have: You never know when you’ll catch a meteor. What do I mean by that? I mean the world is a weird, and dangerous place. Car accidents, slipping in the shower, house fires, bad people, disease, and yes random meteors hitting you in the head can all happen out of the blue with no warning. What is the last remembrance you would like your loved one to have of you? Do you want them to remember you screaming at them, arguing with them, insulting them in some way or do you want them to remember your arms around them, holding them tight and making them feel loved? I know how I want to be remembered. How about you?
Excerpt from SMAFU
SMAFU – SoulMates (A Cherisse Novel)
5 Things That Will Change Your Life and Living the Life You Deserve
Escape the Financial Stranglehold of A Narcissist or An Addict Partner