I began sounding the alarm to the need to prepare yourself and your family for the effects of the, at the time, potential coronavirus pandemic long before it ever officially touched our shores.
For those of you who have been to the grocery stores this past weekend (March 13-14), you know that for all intents and purposes it is here.
If you find yourself in an area where the ability to stockpile emergency food supplies still exists, and if you want to help prepare your immune systems, you can read my article here.
But now, most of that advice no longer applies. The time to safely stock your shelves without overwhelming the system or your pocketbook is over.
For now, at least. There is never a bad time to have an emergency supply of food and essentials for your family. May we not forget that lesson when this is all said and done.
With that said, even though the stores are restocking their shelves, the time to prep slowly and steadily is now in the past. So if you haven’t prepared your emergency food supplies, you can still do so, but will need to do so in a shorter period of time.
Just be safe and neighborly!
With that said, we have a new question to answer.
What’s next?
What can you do now to help protect yourself, those around you, and even those around those around you (that’s how viruses spread).
And what about economically? What can help those of us in need at a time like this?
For example, you may have a stable job that allows remote working and will continue to pay you even during a pandemic.
For others, that is not the case. Many small businesses are feeling the pressure from the loss of business this “in-effect” shutdown is causing.
Think about all the lunch spots that office workers are no longer frequenting. The bars and restaurants around sporting venues that no longer have an influx of fans. Bars and restaurants in general, for that matter.
The list goes on, and as this pandemic goes on, all those people need assistance.
So what can be done?
Let’s start with ourselves.
If you haven’t already taken measures to boost your immune system, it is never too late to start.
Although you may have noticed many of the staples of natural immune system boosting to be cleared off the shelves, things like vitamins C and D, minerals like zinc, and others, there are still other things you can do to improve your health, making you stronger overall and giving you a better chance at frankly everything in life.
(Note: I am making no claims that any of these vitamins, supplements, or strategies can prevent or cure coronavirus, or any ailment for that matter. These are simply supplements that are commonly looked to for immune health. Do your own research.)
One additional step I am taking is doing my best to eliminate foods that tax the body instead of building it up. Processed added sugar is an easy one for me. I am also doing my best to eliminate added chemicals to processed foods, thereby eliminating one extra thing my body has to process, which can only help in my opinion.
Of course, if there is a food shortage and I don’t have the best options, I am not stressing myself out. We all can only do the best we can. My plan is to be confident and strong, with the belief my mind and body will thank me later.
And keep your eyes open for any natural supplements you intended to buy but couldn’t get your hands on. Stores are still restocking their shelves as of this writing, so keep your eyes open!
(Note: nothing in this article is medical advice. Do your research and consult with your licensed health care provider – which I am not – to come up with your own health plan.)
As for work, if you can work from home, do it. Nicely pressure your boss if you need to. If there is no reason for you to report to an office, don’t. It’s not just for you. It’s also for others who might be affected if you are an asymptomatic carrier.
The more we “socially distance” ourselves now, the more we can slow the spread of this disease and give us more time to come up with solutions to combat it.
What about the economy, though?
What about all those small businesses mentioned earlier? People reliant on paychecks from affected industries? Are they simply left out in the cold? Is there nothing we can do?
There is always something we can do!
If you’ve been here before, you knew I would say that.
Many steps have been taken by the government already, but there are big ones out there that can be considered, which can greatly help and alleviate the pain.
There is this wonderful suggestion I found on Twitter today:
As we know, the Federal Reserve manages the money supply in this country (US). They can print money as they see fit, and they do. If they can do it for others, they can do it for you.
A tax credit for all is a wonderful idea, given the number of people affected by this situation.
And there is no need to make people jump through bureaucratic hoops to prove their need. Everyone is going through this, so don’t cause those without means to have to struggle for assistance. A tax credit provided for everyone is a humane idea and should be easy to implement.
A second idea, one which is long overdue in my opinion, is a Jubilee.
For those who do not know, a Jubilee is a term referring to debt forgiveness. Prescribed in the Bible (but never implemented to my knowledge), a Jubilee is meant to occur every 50th year, to wipe clean all debts in that year.
There is also meant to be a temporary deferment of debts in every seventh year (this has also never been implements to my knowledge). This is sometimes referred to as a “rest year”.
Even a temporary suspension of debt repayment during this time would be a hugely welcome addition in my view.
People could be freed from having to think about those payments for a couple of months. There would be no fear of foreclosure when our attention should be directed elsewhere. The slow-down in business activity would not result in people losing their homes or having their property repossessed.
It will also result in those without debt repayment issues gaining extra capital to spend. Perhaps this can be a boost to the economy when it re-approaches full capacity again, helping those whose businesses suffered during the pandemic to regain what they lost.
For more about the Jubilee, you can read my review of it here.
I believe both of these economic ideas are win-win for everyone. And neither need to cause anyone to have to jump through hoops to prove their need (that should be a goal of any economic plan, in my opinion). These ideas should be able to be implemented simply and effectively.
There are likely many other ideas I’m sure, but I am not professing myself to be the world’s foremost subject matter expert on either economics or health. I am not professing myself to be any kind of expert at all, in fact.
I am a layperson just here trying to filter out the ideas and information that could help us, give us our power back where possible, and spread ideas that can help humanity.
We can get through this, and we will. We just have to make sure we spread the good and quiet the bad.
If you have any ideas, please share them in the comments below, or on Twitter or Facebook or even just to your family and friends. It’s not about having all the answers (I do not), but it is about joining in this great social brainstorming session to help us survive and thrive through this all.
Enjoy what you found here today?
Click here to support this effort!
Thank you for your support!
The statements contained on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Unless otherwise specified, no writer for PursuitOfGreat.com is a licensed physician, medical doctor, trainer, nutritionist or health professional of any kind. Do not consume anything written about on this website if you are allergic to it.
The opinions expressed herein are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. Please consult a physician or health care professional for your specific health care or medical needs.
Please talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise or diet program, including those found on this website. The information provided on this site is not intended as a substitute for consultations with your doctor nor is it intended to provide medical advice specific to your condition. (click to read our full disclaimer)