Flashback to one of my favorite 80’s songs, “My Sharona”. Sharona rhymes so well with Corona. Ok…here is the deal. I love Corona beer! I know it’s filled with unwanted calories and carbs, but nothing beats an ice-cold bottle of Corona beer with a lime. Now we are dealing with a pandemic of a virus that someone decided to call the Coronavirus. They are obviously not Corona beer lovers. This virus label actually has some people believing the virus is caused by Corona beer (NO LIE!) and the advice for those that believe this farce is to switch to Modelo beer. Well, I am definitely not buying into that theory. Besides, if I did, I’d have to give up my Corona beer!
All joking aside, this Coronavirus has people freaking out! Go to Walmart, Target, Costco or your local grocery store and walk down the toilet paper aisle and you will be lucky if you see any sitting on the shelves. That one had me scratching my head. I actually asked a grocery store worker if he knew why the toilet paper had sold out and he said he didn’t know either. Then, it dawned on me. People are scared they will be quarantined in their houses for 14 days and run out of toilet paper. Water supplies are no better. I live in South Florida and what I am seeing now is what I see when a hurricane is coming.
As much as this virus brings uncertainty and fear to most if not all of us, we can choose to look at it from a positive perspective and use the lessons of today for success in the future. You can look at the timing of the Coronavirus coming the same time the flu is in full swing as getting hit with a double whammy. But….if you can find the positive in this fact, it is that during flu season, we typically pay more attention to our hygiene habits – washing our hands more frequently and for at least 20 seconds, trying to keep from touching our faces and touching surfaces when out in public and disinfecting surfaces more often. These are practices we should be doing every day of our lives, but we get lazy or forgetful. So, this virus along with the flu forces us to be mindful and in the NOW. That is a good habit to adopt in day to day life.
The CDC is suggesting that we abstain from going to highly populated places because the risk of infection increases. While some highly populated events are being canceled left and right, you can’t argue that it isn’t a prudent and smart choice to make. There may be frustration, anger, and disappointment to those that had planned on a canceled event, but seeing the positive side of it can bring gratitude that cautious measures are being taken to control the spread of the virus. If you are one of those people, find an alternative activity to take the place of it. Spend time with family and friends out in nature doing something fun.
It is important not to get panicked over the Coronavirus, but to remain informed and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself. Listen to the CDC. If you have a compromised immune system or over the age of 60, take extra precautions to prevent contracting the disease. If we are to find the positive in this it is that although you may be washing your hands more, foregoing highly populated areas, working a little more in sanitizing surfaces, and practicing good hygiene habits, there is one thing we don’t have to do and that is give up our ice-cold Corona beer!
