Greetings People! Today is Tuesday, March 10th, and I am AGAIN writing a blog in the rain! If this continues I should be able to hold our Government ransom this summer during the drought! Seriously, if it’s going to rain each time I post to this blog, that gives me an awful lot of power during the hot summer months! Don’t you think? I wonder if local governments would sponsor a vacation so their region so they can also benefit? Just so everyone knows… I am not above being courted in such a fashion! 🙂 Just kidding! Seriously! I mean I’m not really kidding, but I could be! 🙂 We’ll just have to see…
Anyway….
So, as the title of this blog suggests, Im going to take a break from my self-promoting, historically meandering personal storyline. Instead, I want to talk briefly (Don’t laugh!) about an issue getting an awful lot of attention these days. If you are semi-conscious and live anywhere that has a TV, internet connection or Radio, you’re probably very aware of this pesky Corona Virus that is, basically, impacting everybody everywhere…. at least north of the Equator. There may be some folks testing positive for the virus south of the Equator, but we’re not hearing a lot about it! Why am I discussing this topic on my Blog? Well, Im sure you’ve heard this statement (Or something like it) about a million times over the past several days! The statement is, “People who are older or with an underlying condition or compromised immune system are especially at risk”. MS fits into both the “Underlying condition” and “Compromised immune system” categories. So.. WATCH OUT!
My personal take on all of the messaging being broadcast is… well.. it seems a bit alarmist! Am I alone? Granted, I DO have MS and the medication I take for my “Underlying condition” has “Compromised my immune system” making me more susceptible to things like this virus. Based on that, do I call it quits? Has my death warrant finally been issued? Should I shut my doors and hope and pray that Corona misses my house? I have four children who interact with other children/young adults everyday. My wife works in downtown Charlotte surrounded by thousands of strangers who have “Who knows what” and have been “Who knows where”! Should I avoid my kids and wife (I certainly hope not on this one) out of fear of what may, or may not, happen? To quote Ron White (A comedian I’m rather fond of), “I don’t think so scooter!”. 🙂
Am I being a bit blasé about the matter? Potentially! However, there are viruses out there everyday that could negatively impact any number of people, even those who are perfectly healthy! Do we live in fear that something could happen to us and so choose not to participate in life? I know I could get sick, or even those close to me…. I hate to even think about that… but I could also get hit by a car or fall down, or… or … or… 🙁
I follow several MS discussion groups on FB and there has been an awful lot of posting about Corona and how people are reacting to it. Folks are cancelling cruises or vacations! They are stocking up on foods, avoiding public places and spending an awful lot of time worrying about what will happen
“when” (not if) they catch Corona. While I understand that our health is SUPER important and these concerns are legitimate, the posts I most appreciate in these discussion threads are the ones where people say, “Corona? I have a cruise coming up in March and we’re going! Not going to live in fear!”.
How powerful… right? Not going to live in fear, but instead going to live their lives! Im sure the person who posted about the cruise is going to take precautions (Handwashing, Hand sanitizer, etc), but most importantly… they are choosing to live! The saying, “I may have MS, but it doesn’t have me” comes to mind when I see posts like that! And… those are the kind of people I want to be more like!
Remember, MS is a disease that has no cure and, for many of us, gets a bit worse and more impactful over time. Time is precious and our ability to spend quality time with families, pursue hobbies or plan our “bucket lists” are not guaranteed! Let’s not waste it on worry and box ourselves into no-win situations! So, LIVE! Be careful, planful and take proper precaution when you know the boogey man is out there (Or Corona in this case)… but most of all… have a positive outlook, LOVE and LIVE!
OK. So a bit cheesy. If you knew me personally…. you wouldn’t be surprised!
