My Thoughts on "The Rona"
It's been a while since my last entry, and I figured since we're all in quarantine, there's no time like the present to do some writing. I don't know about you, but this virus, the over-reporting of deaths related to the virus, and virtually little to no news about people surviving or being cured, makes me think that this current social distancing, face mask-wearing lifestyle is going to be the new normal for us for a while. If you're wondering what I mean, let us delve a little deeper.
By now, I'm sure you are likely experiencing the whole "social distancing" rule, which requires that we remain, at minimum, six (6) feet apart from other human beings. With no foreseeable end to this outbreak, and the fact that people are starting to get used to living as hermits, lead me to think that we will likely just accept this as our new way of life. I mean, this generation has kind of adopted social media and general internet communication as the primary means of meeting and interacting with new people. There are even cyberbullies; yes folks, bullies have taken to the internet to pick on people (smh).
But for someone like me, an introvert that generally doesn't like human interaction with people outside of my close-knit circle, but will also offer a handshake or helping hand to a perfect stranger; it's kind of tough these days. This is because I am not much for keeping up with new social apps and other online networking trends, unless it's with people that I know, or otherwise do business. Though I do not consider myself to be a "social butterfly", I do, however, feel more comfortable to greet my clients, business associates, and even prospective employers, with a handshake and a smile. In today's social climate, that is a big no-no!
Having personally started a new job before all of the lockdowns started going into effect, I must admit that it was very awkward being introduced to the office, without offering a handshake along with my signature smiley face greeting. I, of course, had to amend my greeting to be a bit more "social distance friendly", where I remove the handshake and instead offer a simple wave and a smile. It seems to have served its purpose so far, but it blew my mind to experience first hand, just how scared people are to socialize now.
I was almost offended when I was introduced to a gentleman from the I.T. department because he simply refused to come anywhere near me on my first day. I had to remind myself, "Hey Pam, Pandemic, duh." It's eye-opening to think that whether we like it or not, this is, unfortunately, the new normal. Don't get me wrong, it is not without good reason that we do our best to follow the social distancing rules. When you turn on the news, you can't help but hear about how so many people are suffering, and how so many others have unfortunately lost their lives, as a result of contracting the COVID-19 virus.
Keeping all this in mind, I have come to accept the "smile and wave" culture in the office. It is a little strange, but, I guess we can say it is a safety measure that we should follow, at least for the time being. Though I have gotten used to the limited interaction at the office, I am thankful that I have recently been cleared to work from home. I was nervous about going outside and leaving the safety of my home every day, only to then return home to my family. I must say that I was fearful of unknowing bringing "the rona" home! For the safety of myself and my family, I made it a point to incorporate a few additional preventative measures to assist with keeping my exposure, and the exposure of my family, as minimal as possible.
For instance, I have always been adamant about washing my hands and maintaining personal hygiene; I strongly urge everyone to make this a priority, if you haven't already. Hygiene is especially important when you have children, even outside of the societal pressure of keeping a pandemic from striking your family. Kids usually aren't as in tune with how often they touch things, wipe their faces, put their hands in their mouths, rub their eyes, and so on. Therefore, we as parents, caretakers, and any other responsible adults that frequently interact with children, must do our part in keeping the kids safe and clean. This not only means keeping the kids clean but also keeping the house clean. Now that we have the down-time, our homes should be clean and sanitized.
In addition to sanitizing our kids and our home ecosystems, we must also boost our immune systems. To be honest, I am a bit surprised that there has not been much encouragement for the masses to boost our immunity. "Cleaning your insides" is just as important, if not more so, than cleaning the outside. Eating vitamin-rich foods will assist with strengthening your immune system. It does boggle the brain that people bum-rushed the markets for toilet paper but left the fruits and vegetables intact, avoided the vitamin and supplement aisle, and seems to have missed the hygiene isles, i.e. body wash, toothpaste, deodorant, laundry soap, and dish soap (smh).
This shows me that people are so caught up in the terror associated with catching the virus, that they aren't thinking logically about how to fight it or how to protect others from contracting it. For starters, consuming simple ingredients that contain Vitamin C, can go a long way. Oranges, pineapples, and limes are all great. For those that like to use herbs and roots to season their food, use ginger, turmeric, and garlic. They are great additions to any meal and they make your insides happy. Its amazing how food can heal. It will take a bit of research and a great deal of discipline but, it is doable.
I'm no medical expert, and I am not an herbalist, but I do pride myself on having been able to keep my family's immunity in pretty good shape over the years. I attribute this to including Tumeric, Ginger, Moringa, and anything with Vitamin C, into meals and drinks. I also pride myself on maintaining a plethora of herbal teas. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit us hard, and society as we know it, may not ever be the same after this is over. However, when this thing does subside, I believe that when the opportunity safely presents itself, we should hug, offer handshakes, or a gentle, yet comforting caress to those we have been separated from for so long. It is my hope that we all can also treat one another better after all of this so that society can heal as a whole.
This blog was written by Pamala Brooks, paralegal, and notary public.
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