New Beginnings -
While some parts of the nation remain under Stay-at-Home orders, many are slowly reopening. This is not because the COVID-19 virus has gone away. It continues to steal far too many of us, particularly our elders and most vulnerable.
The reopenings have been made possible because of the sacrifices of all Americans. The goal was to “flatten the curve” - to slow the spread of the virus so it would not overwhelm our hospitals and healthcare workers. Several parts of our nation have done this. The work of so many - health care workers, truckers, law enforcement professionals, civil servants, delivery people, grocery store workers, food processors, farmers, and many, many more - have reminded us that heroes come in many forms. We are in their debt and must remember their service.
Since the start of the crisis we have tried to share information we hoped would be useful to those most affected. As we look forward to the country opening back up - while dealing with the continuing effects of the virus and preparing for what may be a very difficult fall and winter - we wanted to turn to some things we can do to help ourselves and others as we move to a post-Stay-at-Home world.
Give Blood: The American Red Cross (ARC) has set up a special program for people who are fully recovered from the coronavirus to sign up to donate plasma to help current COVID-19 patients. Haven’t had the virus? The Red Cross and the nation need blood from all donors. A few minutes from you may change a life. You can check HERE for a link to ARC blood programs across the country.
Give Food: The economic impact of managing this crisis has been enormous, with families carrying most of the weight. Community Food Banks have worked hard to provide relief but many have been overwhelmed. Have a few cans to spare? You can be part of the solution. Feeding America includes a directory of food banks across the U.S. Visit HERE to find a place near you.
Give Time: Non-profit service and civic organizations have been hit as hard as anyone. These groups exist to help others. They need a hand to do that. Live near a Boys or Girls Club? Does your house of worship have a community outreach program? Are you near a Veterans Administration center. It will be some time before all of them come back on line but they will need help. Another good way to lend a hand is to register and volunteer through Catchafire. They are a volunteer “match-making” service that Nordin Solutions uses for a good bit of its pro bono work. You can find out more and sign up at Catchafire.
Go to School…and Help Others Go to School: One of the few things that cannot be taken from us is an education. As we move into a new “normal,” people will have to contend with an employment market that is very different than pre-COVID-19. Now is the time to ensure you have the skills, training, and education needed to make it in that market. And it is always time to invest in our youth. Money and time may be hard to secure but we have to start where ever we are. One relatively affordable option is to pursue a program through an online university such as the University of Maryland Global Campus or the American Public University System. Both have been used for years by members of the military and civil service pursuing an advanced education. And there is no shortage of places to donate if you would like to help someone pursue their own dream. Three we recommend are: The United Negro College Fund, the American Indian College Fund, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Looking for a scholarship? College Scholarship is a good start point.
Support Local Businesses: We’ve talked about this before but can not beat the drum enough. Local businesses, especially family owned restaurants, have taken a huge hit. It will be hard for many to survive. You can make a difference. We love to order things online and to eat at home. Now, to the extent you can afford it, is the time to give up a little convenience and - when conditions permit - drive down to the local hardware or clothing store to pick up your next purchase…and grab some take-out from the family restaurant on the corner.
Make a Plan: The last few months have shown how important planning - whether for a crisis, a business, or life in general - is to success. When we have a good plan and follow it, things usually work out better than when we don’t. As we move into a new world we recommend you build three plans. The first is a Financial Security Roadmap. That means different things to different people, but here we are talking about ensuring you have a good “Rainy Day” fund: something you can draw from quickly if you need cash in a hurry. The ideal is to have enough to carry you for a year, but that is not realistic for many. We suggest an initial goal of 30 days of expenses (rent/mortgage, utilities, food, and debt). If you can manage $50 a month that will add up pretty quickly. The next plan is for Emergency Preparedness. The CDC and FEMA have some good guidelines for this and we have discussed those in earlier Solutions posts. Look at what they suggest. Consider what you actually needed. Then write down your own plan and follow it. Finally, start to build a Physical Fitness Plan. Now we know that probably isn’t the first priority for many, but health is a major problem in many of our communities and COVID-19 and viruses like it prey on people who have underlying health conditions. Lose weight; if you are on medication, take it; if you have hypertension or other problems that are not being treated, get help; stop or cut down smoking; and exercise however and whenever you can. You need to check with your health care provider to find out what is right for you, but we aim to get in at least 20 minutes of light cardio in every day.
Reinvent Yourself: Ok…you don’t have to make yourself into an entirely new person. But situations like this do provide an opportunity for us to try new things and do a “soft reset” of the way we did things before. Been wanting to get in shape (see Physical Fitness Plan)? There will never be a better - or more important - time. Wished you did a better job of keeping in touch with other? Do it. Been thinking about starting a new business? Now is the time. Whatever you do (we recently created a film review blog: https://www.bigmovieblog.com/ so believe in practicing what we preach), growing and developing new skills and interests will build resilience and improve our ability to cope with COVID and any other craziness that life throws our way.
Build on the Good: It is hard to think of any good coming from this crisis - but there has been some. It has reminded families that part of family is connection. Staying home, doing things together, eating at a common table: these are things many of us did not do before. As the doors to our homes open, let’s go out - and come back - as a family.
We look forward to the transition to post-Stay-ay-Home life. We also know that the difficulties facing our communities and nation are not going away.
Nordin Solutions exists to help people find solutions to their problems. Whether it is building a plan to bring your business back to life, finding ways to make your organization or community more resilient, or telling your story, there is a solution.