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We're Gonna Make It

There is help and hope on the way not only in the form of a Biden-Harris administration but with a promising vaccine for the Coronavirus. We can start returning to some form of normalcy.

Now I know there are a lot of questions with the vaccine....What if any are the side effects? How will it interact with medications I am currently taking? How often do I have to get vaccinated? We will learn all of this as we go. It is unchartered territory, but we will help one another through it. We will have leadership that will steer us and help us go in the right direction.

Of course this new normal will involve wearing mask and social distancing. This may be uncomfortable for some but it is a small price to pay when a life could be saved. Think of yourself as a superhero. If I wear a mask and social distance then the hospitals will be less crowded with patients. If I wear a mask and social distance then there will be one less person on a ventilator. If I wear a mask and social distance then the doctors and nurses will not have to call a patient’s family to say s/he has passed away. Ask yourself, How many lives can I save today if I wear a mask and social distance?

We have become so accustomed to our way of life we have a hard time dealing with a change in it. Especially when that change has caused loss of income. Sometimes change is good though. It can force us into a situation where we have to think of alternatives, what if, a plan "B". I have reached out to, and received help from, other people. So I am dealing with the same situation as everyone else.

We can get through it because we know there is light at the end of the tunnel. There are steps we can take now with our bills, which will show a positive result in the future: 

• Do the laundry and wash dishes at night. The hot water tank has to fill and heat for both things. When doing dishes by hand, fill one side with soapy water and the other side with clear water, so you do not have to keep turning on the faucet to rinse the dishes. The rates are lower at off-peak hours, which is usually at night (peak hours are during the day when everyone is running their appliances). The same goes for watering the grass.
• Dial down your thermastat and water heater. The thermostat can be dialed down slightly at night while you are sleeping under the covers. The dial on the water heater controls how hot it gets. Find the temperature that is right for you.
• You can unplug items you are not using. When items are plugged in they drain electricity. Install timer switches, LED lightbulbs and/or surge protectors with multiple electrical outlets.
• When you go to the grocery store only buy what you need instead of the spurge items you want. Find coupons for the items you buy. Try buying a generic item instead of a brand name.
• There are automatic subscriptions and memberships we all have. Think about temporarily canceling them. Do you really need cable?
• Try DIY (Do It Yourself) Projects, like plumbing for a leaky faucet. There are great Youtube videos on DIY projects.
• Check your cell phone bill for costly data plans. 
• Check around the house for items you can sell on Ebay or Amazon.
• Check out internet sites that allow you to make money. It is what you make it. It may not be a lot but every little bit helps.
• Have your bank move money for you, into a savings account.
• Turn your hobby into an income. Make an instructional youtube video or start a blog or website.

I know it seems as though this year 2020 has gone by slowly like dog years, but we have the brightness of 2021 to look forward to. While we have grieved the loss of a loved one, the kindness of the human spirit has allowed us to help one another. We have to stay vigilant, motivated and pull out our patience. We are on our way to being stressfree again. As the song says, "We're Gonna Make It" and we will.

The song "We're Gonna Make It" – recorded in 1974 by the group Masterpiece for the Ypsi Record label under the management of the late Paul L. Williams, son of Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams. @MasterTalentM Representation: HertzSchram law firm.

Disclaimer: Since the writing of this posting on 12-13-2020, my views on the Biden-Harris administration/Democratic party have changed. I am a Republican now.