UNEXPECTED HIT
Just a few weeks ago we were looking forward to the warm days of Spring. New Trees & Flowers would blossom. For many, like me, Spring is their favorite Season. It means New Life with a fresh green on the trees & flowers coming up from the gray ground to remind us of the beauty of life.
And then the unexpected scary news of a new version of flu. Followed by the social & economic lock down of the country.
Our thoughts of a warm, welcoming Spring gave way to the constant drum beat of panic & fear streaming from the media. (Why hoard toilet paper?)
It is good that we are reminded to wash our hands, have our flu shot, take our medicines & vitamins. Get enough sleep. Stay away from sick people & if we get sick, stay away from others we could spread our flu to. It is good to remind people that if one is over 70 years of age & they have with a bad heart, bad lungs, have asthma, are receiving cancer treatment, or have auto immune disease, that person is more susceptible to this flu & also the more prevalent influenza flu, and that they should protect themselves accordingly.
NEW FACTS
We are told that as of last Friday that of those who have passed on of this new type of flu in Italy that 98% were over age 80 & 100% had serious preexisting medical conditions.
We have learned that the mortality rate of this new flu is less than 1%.
PREVIOUS STORMS WEATHERED
We have all weathered personal & national storms before, whether it be the attacks on US soil of 911, the Great Recession of 2008, Viet Nam, World War 1 & 2, Korea, or serious illness to us or our loved ones. Or the passing of a loved one.
We have survived those storms & we will weather through & survive this storm too.
TAKE ACTION (ACTION OFFSETS FEAR)
Reach out to your loved ones & friends – it can be by phone, FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, email, letter or whatever. It is important to remember that you are not in this alone. Your next door neighbors are going through the same thing.
Continue to wash your hands & keep healthy habits.
Consider a vacation from the news. My oldest son is in advertising & they say about the news, “If it Bleeds, It Leads”.
The constant drum beat of panic can be disheartening & exhausting. Consider taking a vacation from it.
Take the time to do all the things you thought about doing, but didn’t have the time to do them before. Clean & organize a part of the house, write that letter, or write that story. Maybe start a new healthier diet & start a exercise routine you can do without going to a gym. Try that new hobby. Work on that project you have been putting off. Do some yard work. Enjoy those you are in contact with. And reach out to others.
This Storm will pass like all others.
Read your bible & pray.
“A GEM CANNOT BE POLISHED WITHOUT FRICTION, NOR A MAN PERFECTED WITHOUT TRIALS.”
Lucius Annaeus Seneca
At the Law Firm of Steven Andrew Jackson, Attorney and Counsellor at Law, we have helped hundreds of families protect themselves and their loved ones, avoid Estate Taxes and Probate Costs, and keep their Estate Plans current with the law through The Customized Protective Estate Planning Solution™.