There’s obviously a lot happening in the world around the topic of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) especially now that it has reached official Pandemic status. I’m going to try to keep these thoughts short and brief, but no guarantees (but that’s also why this is a text-post and not a video or podcast today).
I know a lot of other witches and readers have been reading and doing predictions about the virus and how that all is going to play out. I do not and will not be doing this. I don’t do health readings – it is both illegal for me to do so and against my personal morals. I KNOW that I do not have a 100% record (no one does) and that even if I did, the future is not set in stone, and there is too much at risk when it comes to health. Too often I have done readings in the past where I have told someone that something was going to work in their favor so long as they maintained their diligence, which caused them to slack off, and then lose their opportunity, and I will not risk that happening with someone’s health.
So as much as I have been LOVING doing the live readings on world events the last few months, I am not going to be reading on the CoronaVirus and I cannot think of another topic that would not seem tacky and inappropriate or where the virus would not somehow be involved. So we’ll just be skipping this month’s live reading (and this is why we skipped February’s, too).
But this post isn’t really about that, what I really want to say is that now is a really good time to be both a little bit paranoid and diligent. We have really great scientists we can turn to who really know what we’re doing and they’ve been giving us great advice:
- Wash your hands regularly and often
- Avoid crowds as much as you can
- Maintain a respectful distance from other people’s germs
- Look out for each other
These are not new or foreign concepts. They are things we should already be familiar with practicing since the northern hemisphere is just coming off flu season (which I don’t feel we take nearly seriously enough!).
Our immune systems are never as robust or invulnerable as we think they are and even something as minor as not sleeping will or a stressful day can compromise them. That doesn’t even address how we don’t know how the people around us are doing, even those in our immediate family. It is far too easy, especially in an American society, for subtle, pervasive health issues to go unnoticed and undiagnosed.
As someone wise whose name I forgot tweeted yesterday, whether or not you contract the virus is not a moral failing, and moralizing isn’t helpful nor welcome. This is a team challenge, and how we do facing it depends on all of us doing our parts and working together.
In the meantime, since conventions, events, celebrations, parties, parks, etc. are closing and also a VERY BAD IDEA, what should we do with our time? Try some of these out:
- Get through your “watch later” list on YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, your DVR, etc. – you can go big and start a watch party via Facebook, Kast, etc and still hang with your friends!
- That TBR (to be read) pile? It’s been waiting for you! You can start a book club or grab a reading buddy and make this social too!
- Go back and write reviews for all the artists, books, products, restaurants, etc. that you’ve bought or visited over the last few weeks, months, or year because that stuff actually matters.
- Spring time means spring cleaning! Since we’re being diligent about keeping stuff clean and we’re spending more time at home, let’s clean stuff out, too! Remember to donate and recycle what you can!
- Is there some stuff you’ve been meaning to study or learn? This is probably a great time for that. Utilize your library, YouTube, CreativeLive, SkillShare, or the 8 million other resources out there!
- How about some family members or friends you’ve been meaning to catch up with? Phone calls are a little retro at this point, but we all just had some time free up, so give it a shot.
- How about those self care things you’ve been putting off? Meditation, proper sleep habits, exercise, drinking enough water? I’m reading off my own list right now, but I bet you have one too.
- The OUTDOORS – just because we’re avoiding people (aka social distancing) doesn’t mean we’re locked in our houses – you can get outside, plant those bulbs, clean that yard, or check out your national park system.
- Freelancers/entrepreneurs – what business things have you been putting off? Need to re-do that website? Update your shopping cart? Review your contracts? Set up automations? Create a content calendar? Now is a great time for that!
- April 15th is next month – have you done your taxes yet?
Alright, folks. I believe in us and I know we can all get through this with a little common sense, diligence, and over-preparedness. Let’s each do our parts, look out for one another, and keep it moving forward.
