Hello friends,
I hope you’re safe and everyone you care about is safe. I hope you have someone to hug, whether it’s people or pets, and I hope you have food on the table and that you’re going to be okay to ride this thing out, whatever okay means to you.
In Queens, NY, there’s a freezer truck at the back of the hospitals.
You know what I mean by freezer truck, right? Like a semi-trailer, but for frozen foods. Normally, they’d haul beef and frozen goods. It’s for bodies.
Hang with me, there’s a point to this. It’s not just more pandemic panic.
First. Can you imagine that being your mother or your child? Hauled out to a meat truck and you don’t get to say goodbye? That’s horrific to even think of, but it’s for our own safety. They can’t let family say goodbye.
But you know what else? You know — know — that’s not how it would go down if it was a politician or celebrity, or let’s be honest, anyone with sufficient wealth to afford them a different station in life. That’s just for the average bear. Like you and me.
And despite that we are hauling our dead into meat trucks and hockey rinks, there are people who still don’t believe this is serious.
You know how Covid-19 patients die?
They drown. Just like if someone held your head under water, except from the inside. Their lungs fill up with fluid. Slowly and painfully. Until they drown. And get hauled out to a meat truck. Sorry to be so graphic.
So if you know someone who’s a little cavalier about the whole thing, and thinks it’s like the flu, or nothing to worry about, please forward them this video.
It’s a doctor demonstrating what I just said. Because frankly, it’s never the people who aren’t worried about it that die. No. They’re usually the super-spreaders that infect a whole bunch of other people.
There are only 2 kinds of people…
As I’m watching all this unfold, I can’t help but think of something Viktor Frankl said. Frankl was a neurologist, a psychiatrist and a holocaust survivor.
In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, he says there are only 2 kinds of people in the world. We’re not separated by race, creed, color, politics, gender. No, the two kinds of people are those who have the capacity to do evil to others —and those who do not.
Last week, the CEO of Whole Foods told staff if they have any paid time off due to them (ie; holidays) they can “donate” it to co-workers facing medical emergencies.
Meanwhile, he makes $500,000 per year and has a net worth of 75 million.
What a generous guy, letting staff “donate” their holiday hours to sick co-workers.
McDonald’s said their staff will get 2 weeks paid time off, but only if they’ve been ordered into quarantine. Fun fact. A McDonald’s employee would have to work 3,101 years to make what the CEO makes in one year.
Here’s the one that threw me for a loop.
Richard Branson’s company, Virgin Atlantic, is asking its 10,000 employees to take eight 8 weeks of unpaid leave to “reduce costs without job losses.”
So they won’t lose their job, but they’re not getting paid.
Branson’s net worth is over 4 billion dollars. Four. Billion. Keep that in mind next time some self-growth wahoo tells you how to be like Richard Branson or recommends his books or quotes him in one of those how to fix your life listicles.
Another hero down.
I’d bought his book. It’s in my recycle bin right now. I’ll never buy another.
Some companies are stepping up to the plate for their employees. Too many are not and we need to remember those companies when this is done.
There is always a before and an after…
My grandmother was a young girl who lived through the pandemic of 1918. One third of the world’s population died. I’m glad that she was holed up in a tiny shack on the Canadian Prairies and that she survived. A third of the world didn’t.
Today, many won’t. I pray the losses are as small as humanly possible. When the dust settles, there will be a lot of rebuilding to do.
Many small businesses will have died.
Many people will have exhausted every penny of their savings.
Many of us will have lost loved ones.
We need to be watching to see who deserves loyalty when this is done.
And who does not.
Also?
A lot of us would be breathing a lot easier if we knew how to build an audience and a side income online. We’re going to talk about that next week.
Hope you’ll watch for it.
Thanks for reading. If you liked this, please click the little heart to let me know.
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Thank you. I appreciate you more than you know.
xo
Linda
Surprised to read about Branson. Saddened to. Especially surprised because he’s a member of the “Giving Pledge” group who have made a commitment to donate at least 50% of their estate to charity! It’s an exclusive club- you need to be a billionaire.
Ugh, So disappointing. I thought Richard Branson was one of the good guys. Everyone shows their true colors at a time like this.