Unless your business is in need of paper goods by the hundreds stop the hoarding. A family on a weekly will not use, barring special needs, a case of toilet tissue in a week's time. If you are please let me know about it. There are others in need and greed makes it difficult to assess purposeful demand. Hand sanitizerer albeit important is not the end all be all of cleanliness but while we are on the subject, was the person who felt it necesssary to stock pile like there was no tomorrow, having a human moment. Maybe the idea was to gather and then distribute all that santizer like Oprah's back in the day "you get a car and you get a car" notion. Probably not though. If you think this is positive reinforcement for this generation who to a large extent think they are entititled you're doing a bang up job. We are teaching our children nothing more than the me self indulgent life style with every roll we pack up. A young boy age thirteen in the UK had what he thought was an ingenious idea. Selling squirts of hand sanitizer for 50 pence, around .65 U.S. He made roughly eleven dollars before getting busted by the teacher. Cute, said no one ever.
While standing in a Target yesterday a stock person with a small pallet whizzed by myself and a deaf client with me stopping at an end cap. Little did we know despite seeing numerous media hype that we were in for a royal treat. As innocent bystanders we saw first hand the unleashing of the paper goods frenzy. Despite friendlly reminders above the shelf in bold print stating the stock was limited to certain quantities a line formed and upon opening the first box a bum rush ensued. My stunned shopping companion who is totally deaf started frantically signing that they didn't understand what was going on. Catching the attention of those awaiting the new stock gave me a soft segway. I kindly asked the group if they understood what they were signing and how this was affecting them. I signed and verbalized on how the person with me was confused and expressed they only wanted a pack of toilet tissue and wipes both of which were being shared with a family member so others might have a chance on quantities. For one brief moment I think they got it., they truly got it. I let them know it was not right to reach over someone else who was clearly in line and asked them to please be more aware of their actions. Allowing kindness be the intent not wantonly knocking someone in the head to get the last paper towel. A woman approached me after and thanked me for my candor and she knew a little sign language because one of her best friends is an interpreter. A couple of people even greeted us as we exitied and one person expressed interest in sign language. Another pleasant discussion started which I may share another time. Another fantastic thing happened before we left the store, the stock manager made sure we left with everything we came for, minus hand sanitizer though.
Folks, I say all this not for accolades, don't need them. And if after reading this you decide you are not going to think of others and your winning attitude is to snatch and grab at a time when being considerate should be the mitigating factor, hey, you can't win them all and there are more iportant things besides paper. People in human services such as teachers, restaurants, bars, and small business owners all over this country just got the shock of maybe their entire life. Family owned or franchised made it their business to serve the public. Through blood sweat and tears put the bread on the tables of just about all living and breathing today. They sacrificed by working long hours and did things behind the scenes you may never know about. Teachers spending beyond their miniscule salary to help your child. Yes, for now there is the painful struggle of when this trial will end but how we survive it takes endurance Like the stock person yesterday who works hard and does not deserve to be direspected on the grounds of a 1000 sheets. A reemerging enemy an egoistic mentality if you will has creared its ugly head and like in times past a majority will come together for a bit of Kumbaya and once the threat is over old habits just as bad as using the bathroom without washing your hands will once again be the norm, whatever that is.
Another thought occurred to me and so began the quest for answers. As the TP conundrum goes on has anyone contemplated disaster preparedness with a purpose. Meaning do you have an emergency kit or backpack, something more tangible, an emergency escape plan. Here are a few ideas:
Backpack
Dried fruit
Nuts
Meal Kits/Tuna pouches or dried meats
Water Packs
Medication
Radio with Plug/Battery capabilities
Flashlight
Durable change of clothes
Foldable Raincoat
First Aid Kit
Remember to check dates on all goods being purchased for emergency kit.
Build a strategic family plan the way you plan for fire drills. Where and how to reunite and training your children who emergency contacts are and if they have cell phones syncronize on all your devices. If 911 in not an option, what then. Instead of the dismissive notion this could never happen to you think of a real plan for your family.
Practicing good common sense is the responsibility of each one of us as well as a moral compass. Treat others with dignity. The person you take from today could be the one who isn't working right now and all they wanted was a piece of normal in their world. Could be the only interaction they encounter if they are alone, not working and no family, feeling low, etc.
On to hand sanitizer, some states are aligning similiar ideas to New York where they are making their own. Sounds reasonable especially for the workplace. Be mindful, washing your hands is not a trend and is still the best method as everyone in the health industry has stated a thousand times already. Follow steps to keep yourself healthy and clean:
1. Washing hands for 20 seconds - many sites like Youtube and television spots show a variety of methods.
2. Elbow bump has migrated to foot tap to not touching at all-three foot rule.
3. Do not touch your face-hard habit to break when you have an itch, you scratch or rub the eyes but please don't do it.
4. Stay 3 feet apart-reduces exposure risk through speaking and reminder of not to touch other person.
5. EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! If you are sick please please please STAYHOME! Don't be a hero. No one wins in the germ spread. Especially those with preexisting medical issues.
All the grocery shopping sets you up for weight gain too. In taking a brief survey of men women with or without children, mostly men said they eat significantly more food during the day as work from homers. One male in particular said he has increased his eating habits to atleast 10 times a day -astonishing! Women said they were more multitasking as household tasks seemed all consuming. Disciplining seemed to be split along with ability to actually getting work projects completed and meeting deadlines were on the lower range on the initial time away from the office. Mixed feelings on work home progress. The eating made me pause. With empty store shelves someone is eating and often. Create boundaries or you the line to the doctors office will be for heart disease and diabetes.
As a person spending a few hours a week as a writer the pet peeve is the over saturation of Covid-19. Understandably awareness is key and no one is diminishing the severity. However, there is nothing I've seen in the last week besides additional school and business closures and a few tips reiterating the obvious that would make me stay glued to every station talking about Coronvirus. Media is constantly trying to hold your attention. We need to me informed yet showing hardest hit every single time without balance of those surviving, giving more tips and maybe sharing why certain areas seeme to have a higher concentration might be good. Feeding fear isn't working it adds frenzy and hysteria, prompting emotional shopping insted of executing critical thinking. Again, accurate information is wonderful, over doing it can run the risk of becoming individuals becooming desensitized..
Now is the time for self evaluation and reflection. So if you are infact practicing what you preach and you haven't tweaked it, it may be time to change your sermon.
Until next time~