Fear and Loathing in the Time of COVID-19: Keep your Head Up.

Times have become a bit shit. I understand that.

From silly cries of "we're all in this together" coming from celebs who are Tik-toking in their posh mansions to politicians who have no experience with losing a job, or taking a pay cut, telling us that we all need to "share sacrifice" together, not meaning them obviously, they mean you.

In times like these I suggest you tune out that noise, tune out the hysterical media, the partisans, the so-called "experts' who put us into lock down based on what we now know to be shoddy evidence and focus instead on your friends, your neighbors, your loved ones.

Eventually, either the governments are going to relent and re-open, hopefully with a focus on social distancing, protecting the vulnerable and encouraging PPE use, which is what we should have done in the first place.  And when they do this it's going to be vital that people actually get out and do this.

I don't mean that you need to book that flight to Rome right now, or immediately head to Las Vegas or Santa Barbara, but what we do need to do is start living life again. Go to your favorite restaurant and grab dinner, maybe take a weekend and go for a small road trip. Do something that gets you out and interacting and putting some amount of money back in the economy.

There are discussions to be had, honest discussions, about what our institutions did right and wrong during this mess. Believe it or not, there are some good things that were accomplished. But there were many bad as well. In fact, the media, government, and medical community has done more to exacerbate this problem than they have to help it.  Leaving out the front-line workers obviously.

But that's a long discussion for another day.

Right now you need to focus on you. Your mental health, your physical health, your financial health. These are things that the government, and the media, cannot help you with. Yes, unemployment and SBA loans can provide bridge support, but your long-term health and wealth is, and should be, your own concern.

I might suggest that you take this opportunity to re-evaluate what you're doing in your career. How can you improve your lot in life?

We're at the beginning of what is going to be a long, bumpy road to recovery and whatever comes beyond. Given the rather pathetic state of leadership in the world today I've a bad feeling there are going to be more missteps than steps-forward as we do. During all of this it will be vital that you keep your eyes on you and yours, not on the Bronzed Ego or Nancy Ice Cream.

When it comes to politicians and other institutions: Eff 'em.  Let them scoop their ice cream and argue amongst themselves and continue to play-pretend that they're somehow "fighting".

For the more serious among us, let's look out for each other.  And if you wake up in the morning and find yourself feeling down, don't be afraid to ask for help. There's nothing weak about needing a helping hand, or a shoulder to cry on or just a friendly person to vent to.

Keep your head up, with a mask on and 6 feet away from the other person who is trying to keep their head up as well.

But let's get our heads up out THERE, where things are happening and we need to be a part of them.