So, how are you doing?

This post isn’t about selling anything, pushing, reviewing or putting a sale or website out there. It’s about checking in with you. You’re important and I want to make sure you’re doing okay.

I know that, as a nation, we are under extreme pressure. The world pandemic of the Covid-19 virus is a scary thing. We had just gone to NYC to view a play at the Public Theater. It was such a joy, that we had planned to take some family back to see it as well. Sadly, along with Broadway, all plays were suspended. The actors in the play, as well as the rest of the crew, are devastated.

Sports venues closed to the public before stopping the events entirely. Schools are closed for two weeks or until further notice. Toilet paper, hand sanitizer and other essentials are disappearing from the store, and in general, it seems that people are panicking. I know it’s a scary time, and I feel the same things as you.

I see posts about people being afraid to leave home and posts others make about how the press is causing this “unfounded panic.” I don’t know if we, as Americans, are overreacting but I do know this; I’d rather be too cautious.

I have people in my life that are high-risk. My mother has COPD and is on oxygen regularly. My spouse has serious progressive lung issues. My youngest son has lung issues from serving in the military overseas (for which he was medically discharged). I take an 86 year old gentleman with diabetes to his doctor appointments. Our neighbor has recently had his prostate removed because of cancer and his wife had her spleen removed a few years ago. My brother-in-law is very sick with stage four pancreatic cancer.

I’m not worried about my own health. I’m overweight, yeah, but otherwise healthy. If I were to get exposed to the coronavirus, I know I’d be sick, but have a great chance of totally recovering. I’m not so sure the people I mentioned above would have the same outcome. What if I exposed them to Covid-19? I’d feel guilty for the rest of my life if I made them sick. I’d want to die myself if any of them got it and didn’t recover.

On top of making my loved ones sick, how many other people would I infect by going to the post office? The grocery store? The movies? It’s not about me. It’s about me caring about what happens to others. Do I think some people are overreacting? Yes. Do I understand the panic? Yes. Am I hoarding all the TP and hand sanitizer? No. But I do know I can’t go on with my life as if nothing is going on. But I’m careful and cautious about my activities.

When this all blows over, and it will, I hope we can look back and be proud that we did our part to protect the ones we love. We may laugh and think the world was silly by closing plays, schools, sporting events, and other enjoyable things. Maybe. Or we may be glad we took those precautions.

But remember, whatever happens, I’m over here sending out love and hope to the world, and that includes YOU.