Being Healthy: Responding Constructively to COVID-19

Being Healthy has certainly been the headline of the year. COVID-19 brought all of its political baggage and started to move in. We learned:

• about a novel virus – both the real and the perceived threats to ourselves
• that Public Health measures can help retard the spread of the virus through a population
• that political egos enjoy exercise, no matter the cost.

Yes, it has been quite a year.

Given that COVID-19 is still the literal centerpiece of everyone’s lives, and that we have tried out so many models of response, I propose a less invasive and equally effective approach. Who knows? It may become popular enough to be called viral.

What We Know So Far

• As the novel coronavirus makes its way through the world population, it makes sickest the most physically vulnerable people
• Most of us have yet to encounter the virus
• Many who are infected with the virus are asymptomatic
• Not everyone survives the infection
• There is a lot we know about the virus now
• There are a number of reliable treatments for the infection
• We know what Public Health measures work to slow the spread of infection
• There are at least two vaccines for the virus
• We can manage the virus

We have come a long way since the first warning bells were sounded back in March. We’ve got a handle on our knowledge of things, which is quite remarkable considering the short a period of time.

We have done a remarkable job this year.

Everybody Has One

Opinions have abounded during this pandemic. (Yes, there will be other pandemics in the future.) By virtue of the Internet, every person has access to a soapbox that they may use to broadcast to the world. As we have found out, a majority of those opinions are supported by little more than the speaker’s fear. Unfortunately, inaccurate information tends to be broadcast much faster than factual information.

Such is the nature of the Internet.

When conflicting opinions are raised, the current reaction appears to be to yell louder and longer than the other guy. Call the opposing speaker names and channel our inner child’s temper tantrum. Please don’t confuse us with actual facts. We’re frightened and rather broadcast our fear.

Oh my, but we’ve gotten off-topic.

Perhaps that has been the intent all along.

I propose we avoid arguing about our fears about COVID-19 and look instead to how we can best respond.

A Healthy Response

Instead of speaking to someone’s fear in the face of COVID-19, I advocate a step-up-and-engage-the-virus approach and meet it on its own turf – the human immune system. Focus on being Healthy and building up our immune system to handle challenges.

We now know a lot about the novel coronavirus. Add to that picture thousands of years of knowledge about the human body, and we can develop a response that encourages natural defenses to do the thing they do so well – protect us from within. No experimentation needed.

Focusing on building our natural defense mechanisms is easy too. It is a familiar tune.

Taking Action

• Eat Well – Consuming foods that have the least amount of processing provides our bodies with the raw materials needed to support natural processes in our bodies, including immune system responses to infections.
• Rest Well – Especially during times of stress (both physical and mental), giving our body the chance to build is essential. Think of bodybuilding: making muscles bigger and stronger doesn’t happen in the gym. Muscles grow and get stronger during periods of rest. Rest allows the body to get stronger.
• Exercise – As with eating and resting, be intentional with exercise. Exercise provides us with a Healthy response to both physical and mental stress. Getting up and moving is important. Whether cross training or just a walk around the block, Movement is Life.
• Positive Thinking – Unless you are a litigator, the argumentative approach provides little benefit for participants. (There is so much more to Life than just being right.) Even if not directly engaged, such negative debates produce stress and fear in the listeners. During these stressful times, this is the least helpful to our Health. Unless there is something useful to be gained, walk away from the arguments. You will feel better for it.
• Choose Your Ground – You have a whole lot more control over your situation than you may think. Bullies abound. Just because someone has told you that you must do or think something, be a critical thinker and question. Choose your battles. Not every fight is worth your energy. Question statements, question assumptions, develop your own perspective and live it. Being your own person contributes to making healthier decisions and stronger sense of self.

There are many things that we do not have control over in Life. Choosing to respond to COVID-19 on our own terms is making the best of what we have. Gather as much reliable information as possible, decide where you stand, and act as you see fit. When others think for us, they do not always have our best interests at heart.

You can be strong. Choose to be Healthy too.

Adversity introduces a man to himself.
  – Albert Einstein