Jules Heartly | March 20^th, 2020  Day FIVE of my day-to-day during Covid19-Mandated life changes. 

Today’s news is NOT good news.

With Gyms being closed, for the time being, I joined a live #TurboSteps workout session, with many other people around the globe who are #InThisTogether.  Just when I was starting to feel the good high of a workout, hell broke loose: the NY governor announced a #ShelterInPlace or as he called to make it easier on our minds #MandatoryStayHome.  He ordered all nonessential businesses to keep all workers at home.

That means a lot of small businesses will be closed indefinitely, places like hair salons, nail salons, boutiques, and other small retail stores.   It also explicitly says people under 70 should limit outdoor activity to getting groceries and medicines, but they may exercise outdoors as long as they stay six feet apart from others.

Although the mandate makes sense, and it is appropriate to manage the current #CoronaVirusPandemic, and even though for the most part New Yorkers were already following the #StayHome suggested action, feeling forced to do it sounded different.  It created another kind of perception of the already existing quarantine,  and #SocialDistancing we have been practicing lately. It felt like confinement, not to say locked up.

When listening to the news, my mind went through all kinds of scenarios, how would I go about visiting or helping my mother, who lives an hour away from me.  What would happen to all the people that either owned or worked at a small business? How would they pay their bills? Would they have enough money to buy groceries? And so on.

To gather my thoughts and re-focus my mind, I went for a much needed decompressing walk in a forest park nearby.   It was good to see that other people had decided to do the same, and even when exercising together they were keeping a distance of at least six feet from each other in their best effort to #DoYourPartNYC.

I got distracted by the beauty of the forest, but not for long, as my cell phone went off.  It was my hairdresser, letting me know my upcoming appointment had been canceled.  The salon closed. In his voice, I felt the effort of being calm and cheerful, as if it was a routine cancellation, although we both knew it wasn’t.  I remembered how we have talked so many times about how hard were for him and his family during slow seasons, as he works on commission and tips.  How would he pay his rent and survive during this unknown period without an income?  And what about all the other people in a similar situation? The shoe-repair man, the cleaning person, etc, etc.

“Is there any way I can help you through this time?” I asked.  He didn’t answer right away. “Well you could tip me in advance or even give me a client-appreciation bonus,” he said shyly and half-way joking.

I thought, if all of us went the extra-mile to help the hardest hit in our vicinity, it would be a great gesture of #AllInThisTogether.   Yes, some of you, maybe thinking that is the government job, etc. etc.. but the truth is, It is our job as human beings, as caring people, as a community to be there for each other.  The gesture itself will bring hope, will bring a smile to ourselves and others, and that my friends it is a great way to improve the immune system. 😉

With those thoughts as company in my mind, I got home and ordered takeout from the recently opened Spice C Restaurant, a Szechuan Chinese place in my neighborhood.  I gave a generous tip to the food delivery person. I am thankful for their work, and their contribution to my wellbeing as it is hard to work from home, tend the family and cook meals every day.  As my neighbor told me: “It is like having five-full-time jobs”.

That was my first step to put in practice what I am inviting you to do so. Lets #SupportSmallBusiness and #SelfEmployed people, let’s  #MakeADifference on the lives of those that have helped us in so many ways and now need our support.

I decided to send my hairdresser via Zelle the cost of my haircut and the tip.  What would you do to help the ones around you?

And  

How did you cope today in day X of this global #COVID19 pandemic?

I would love to hear from you.

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