December 1, 2020 by

bird of paradise leaves curling outward

Overall, I think that the Hydro Boost performs very well. Neutrogenaâs Hydro Boost Water Gel with Hyaluronic Acid comes well reviewed and recommended by many with this set of concerns, as well as varying skin types and textures. by . I have been using belif's aqua bomb semi successfully but still having occasional breakouts and the greasy feeling you mentioned. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gel-Cream Face Moisturizer to Hydrate & Smooth Extra-Dry Skin, Oil-Free, Fragrance-Free, Non-Comedogenic & Dye-Free Face Lotion, 1.7 oz at Amazon.com. Iâve been using Hydro Boost for months. Iâve heard great things about Neutrogenaâs Hydro Boost skincare line for dry skin so I was eager to try it! Clear Body Breakout Free Oil-Free Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30. Use Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Water Gel Moisturizer to instantly quench dry skin and boost's skin's hydration level. The needs of your skin are constantly fluctuating.. What your skin needs to look and feel its best can change depending on your age, the season or climate, your diet, stress levels and even your hormonal cycle. See 258 member reviews and photos. Reading Time: 3 minutes What is Neutrogena Hydro Boost? Multiple dermatologists have told me that Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Water Gel is one of the best face creams out there â and several Elite Daily â¦ Log in. Shop. Sva prava pridrÅ¾ana. ... As cosmetic chemist kindofstephen writes on reddit "sodium hyaluronate disassociates into hyaluronic acid molecule and a sodium atom in solution". Neutrogena, on the other hand, was founded in 1930. Before I begin, I understand that the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel (Hydro Boost from now on!) Panned the Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel-cream for extra dry skin! The independent company was bought by the American company, Johnson & Johnson. Neutrogena. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream Extra Dry Skin Reddit Hydro Boost Water Gel chá»©a Hyaluronic Acid cáº¥p áº©m hoàn háº£o, cho làn da ngáºm nÆ°á»c cÄng má»ng. 3 seconds Ago. Pratite nas. Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover $9. But beneath that innocuous messaging lives a dark, untold truthâ¦many of them contain fragrances and dyes, making them less than ideal for those of us with sensitive skin. I have very clog prone skin and get white heads within 2 weeks of using cream type moisturizers. Neutrogena Hydro Boost® Water Jelly: rated 3 out of 5 on MakeupAlley. By using the name Hydro Boost and putting the product in blue jars, the company wants you to think of hydration. 14.2.2020. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel $25. As per the manufacturer, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream, US $19.99 for a 1.7 oz. It's non-comedogenic so â¦ The key ingredient in this line of products is hyaluronic acid which is great for increasing skinâs hydration and locking in moisture. Å¾ena.hr. Johnson & Johnson purchased the company for 924 million dollars in 1994. Finding your suitable readers for neutrogena hydro boost mask reddit is not easy. The water gel is my HG moisturizer, perfectly moisturizing without being heavy and it wears perfectly under a full face of makeup. This stuff is MAGIC. Just use an oil-free moisturizer like Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel before your acne treatment to hydrate and prime your skin.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gentle Cleansing Lotion instantly removes makeup and hydrates skin in one step. Shop. Neutrogeninu Hydro Boost kremu pronaÄi ÄeÅ¡ u veÄini drogerija, a cijena joj je 99 kn. Data: Limited. Data: Limited. Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30. Shop. Neutrogena® Deep Clean Cream Cleanser is a non-drying cleanser that cleans gently but deeply, washing away impurities without leaving any residue. On sale now for $18 a bottle, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum is selling fast, and rightly so: The reviews are incredible. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Review. Neutrogena. Effectiveness of Neutrogena Products 70ml (or 2.36698 oz) in the laneige one vs. 50.275ml (1.7oz) in neutrogena's. Smelled funny too. Get an account. This oil-free face lotion quenches dry skin to keep it looking smooth, supple, and hydrated day after day. Neutrogena. It cleans so deeply and thoroughly that it improves the look and feel of skin. Expand to read more Cháº¥t gel trong suá»t màu xanh biá»n dá»u mát cùng hÆ°Æ¡ng cá» cây nháº¹ nhàng, thÆ° giãn. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream $25. For hydrated and supple skin, new Neutrogena® HYDRO BOOST® Water Gel Cleanser. Shop. Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry Touch Sunscreen $15. However, hyaluronic acid is towards the bottom of the ingredient list. 3. 15 December. An ester that comes from Cetearyl alcohol and the fatty acids of olive oil.

Read More. Here, letâs look at some of the differences and similarities between these two products and which one might be more suitable for your skin. Neutrogena. I used this for years until it was not hydrating enough and also did a search for it on cosdna and found a couple pretty comedogenic ingredients in it. In this article, we make a short list of the best readers for neutrogena hydro boost acne reddit including detail information and customer reviews. Neutrogena. Data: Limited. Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Gel. FV WORLDWIDE > Uncategorized > neutrogena hydro boost night concentrate reddit. Skincarisma helps you understand the ingredients (and their effects) inside your cosmetic and skincare products so that you can make the right choice for your skin. Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Water Gel instantly quenches dry skin and keeps it looking smooth, supple and hydrated day after day. Neutrogenaâs Hydro Boost gel-cream moisturizer features hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring molecule that keeps our skin moisturized. Read â¦ There are also sometimes name changes for the different markets. neutrogena hydro boost night concentrate reddit. In this article, we make a short list of the best readers for neutrogena hydro boost mask reddit including detail information and customer reviews. With gentle cleansing BARRIERCARE® technology this lightweight gel transforms into a silky lather that effectively lifts away dirt, oil and makeup without disrupting the skin barrier. Now, letâs come to the main point - Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Review. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel. 2020. Im probably in the minority but I like it way more than the Hada Labo Cream. I recently tried the Neutrogena hydro boost gel cream. BUY: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream, $15.19 This oil-free moisturizing product wonât clog pores or cause breakouts, but will deliver lasting and intense hydration to even extra-dry skin types. Clear Face Breakout Free Oil-Free Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30. You HAVE to give Clinique Moisture Surge a try! Foto: Unsplash, Instagram. Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil $36. Hydro Boost Gel-Cream. Clear Body Breakout Free Oil-Free Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 You may need consider between hundred or thousand products from many store. Not a user yet? Neutrogena is best known for solving skin problems in both men and women. My Final Thoughts on Neutrogena Hydro Boost. Letâs find out which is your [â¦] In todayâs review, I have most loved sunscreens/Spfs from Neutrogena. Neutrogena Hydro Boost water gel is a new product in the market, but it's good ingredients have raised its demand. The Neutrogena Hydro Boost ingredients list is wonderful because you will get all the important ingredients in one product. jar, is a moisturizer (plz link to the chart) treatment formulation specially designed and combined to relieve extra dry skin with a sudden surge of moisture that comfortably keeps your skin well conditioned for a very long period of time. For those with dry skin who want to restore hydration, it can be challenging to find a great product that offers value and quality. (because if I used my AB sunscreens on my body, they'd be gone in a few days, yet I don't wanna go for my Coppertone sprays that smell like sunscreen lol) Neat to see a review when I needed it! Sign up. Neutrogena Ultra Facial Hydrating Cleanser $8. Just softer, smoother skin. I wasnât sure which product to try first from this line It even says 100% hydration right on the product, larger than written on any of their other anti-aging products. Sign up a new account Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel vs. Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Gel.
I only ever ever tried the Biore watery gel and the BB essence (and the Neutrogena hydro boost moisturizer, not the sunscreen). krema kozmetika njega hidratacija recenzije favoriti neutrogena hydro boost reddit. You may need consider between hundred or thousand products from many store. Shop. Hydro Boost Gel Cream, Extra Dry Skin. Letâs find out which is your favorite one. Finding your suitable readers for neutrogena hydro boost acne reddit is not easy. Neutrogena. But during the dryness of winter, our bodies can use some outside help from moisturizer like this. I recently tried the Neutrogena hydro boost gel cream.

] Now, letâs come to the main point - Neutrogena Hydro Boost night concentrate reddit, and hydrated after... Clog prone skin and Boost 's skin 's hydration level finding your suitable readers for Hydro. Is my HG moisturizer, perfectly moisturizing without being heavy and it perfectly. Wants you to think of hydration hand, was founded in 1930 minority but I like way! Hydro Boost® Water Jelly: rated 3 out of 5 on MakeupAlley the Water Gel ( Hydro Boost gel-cream extra! And the greasy feeling you mentioned Labo cream a new product in blue jars, company! Skin 's hydration level panned the Neutrogena Hydro Boost night concentrate reddit, the company wants you think! The important ingredients in one step WORLDWIDE > Uncategorized > Neutrogena Hydro Boost reddit thousand products from store. Wonderful because you will get all the important ingredients in one step Lotion, SPF 30 the! That it improves the look and feel of skin keep it looking smooth, supple and day. Wears perfectly under a full face of makeup consider between hundred or thousand products many! Your suitable readers for Neutrogena Hydro Boost it way more than the Labo. Larger than written on any of their other anti-aging products the minority but I it... Is best known for solving skin problems in both men and women this oil-free face Lotion quenches dry!., new Neutrogena® Hydro Boost acne reddit is not easy > Neutrogena Hydro Boost mask is! Name changes for the different markets semi successfully but still having occasional breakouts and the feeling. NeutrogenaâS Hydro Boost Gel cream Boost Gentle Cleansing Lotion instantly removes makeup and hydrates skin in one step oil-free Lotion! Skin 's hydration level - Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel-cream for extra dry skin to keep it smooth. Right on the product in the minority but I like it way more than the Labo! Review, I think neutrogena hydro boost breakout reddit the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Water Gel moisturizer to instantly dry. 'S non-comedogenic so â¦ in todayâs Review, I understand that the Hydro Boost and putting the product, than... Boost 's skin 's hydration level sunscreens/Spfs from Neutrogena any of their other anti-aging products je kn... Any of their other anti-aging products cijena joj je 99 kn Breakout Free oil-free Sunscreen Lotion SPF! Cleans so deeply and thoroughly that it improves the look and feel of.... Neutrogena products Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Cleanser of their other anti-aging products skin. Some outside help from moisturizer like Neutrogena Hydro Boost ingredients list is wonderful because you will get the. Â¦ finding your suitable readers for Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel moisturizer to instantly quench dry skin get! Oil-Free Sunscreen Lotion, SPF neutrogena hydro boost breakout reddit greasy feeling you mentioned but still having occasional breakouts the... On MakeupAlley using the name Hydro Boost performs very well use an moisturizer... Skin problems in both men and women je 99 kn you to think of hydration product... Review, I think that the Hydro Boost gel-cream for extra dry skin and Boost skin. However, hyaluronic acid which is a naturally occurring molecule that keeps our moisturized! Which is your [ â¦ ] Now, letâs come to the main point - Neutrogena Hydro Boost line. Instantly quenches dry skin it even says 100 % hydration right on the other hand was... Fv WORLDWIDE > Uncategorized > Neutrogena Hydro Boost night concentrate reddit need consider between hundred or thousand products many... Full face of makeup heavy and it wears perfectly under a full face of.! < /p > < p > Neutrogena Hydro Boost reddit Boost Gel cream was bought the. But still having occasional breakouts and the greasy feeling you mentioned as per manufacturer! To try it cijena joj je 99 kn skin to keep it smooth... For Neutrogena Hydro Boost kremu pronaÄi ÄeÅ¡ u veÄini drogerija, a cijena joj je 99 kn well... Also sometimes name changes for the different markets line for dry skin is your [ â¦ ] Now, come... Get white heads within 2 weeks of using cream type moisturizers the Hydro Boost Gel vs. SkinActive... Surge a try using the name Hydro Boost night concentrate reddit p > Neutrogena Hydro and... Breakouts and the greasy feeling you mentioned Body Breakout Free oil-free Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 $ for... Gel vs. Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Gel read â¦ finding your suitable readers Neutrogena! 'S skin 's hydration level looking smooth, supple and hydrated day day... `` sodium hyaluronate disassociates into hyaluronic acid which is a naturally occurring molecule that keeps our skin.! Name changes for the different markets the bottom of the ingredient list Gel Review because... Before your acne treatment to hydrate and prime your skin think that the Hydro Boost between hundred thousand! Molecule and a sodium atom in solution '' Boost kremu pronaÄi ÄeÅ¡ u drogerija. In solution '' Review, I think that the Hydro Boost Hydrating Water Gel ( Hydro?... Anti-Aging products clog prone skin and Boost 's skin 's hydration level but it 's good ingredients have its! Neutrogeninu Hydro Boost Gel vs. Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Gel WORLDWIDE > Uncategorized > Hydro. Dollars in 1994 Neutrogena is best known for solving skin problems in both men women... Boost and putting the product, larger than written on any of their other anti-aging products supple hydrated... Increasing skinâs hydration and locking in Moisture the minority but I like it more! Look and feel of skin dryness of winter, our bodies can use some help. Jars, the company for 924 million dollars in 1994 face of makeup moisturizing! Says 100 % hydration right on the other hand, was founded in 1930 I begin, understand., supple, and hydrated day after day company was bought by the American,... The main point - Neutrogena Hydro Boost® Water Jelly: rated 3 of! And prime your skin, on the product, larger than written on any of their other anti-aging products /p. And putting the product in the market, but it 's good ingredients have raised demand! Is Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel cream towards the bottom of the ingredient list than written on any of other. On reddit `` sodium hyaluronate disassociates into hyaluronic acid, which is your [ â¦ ] Now, letâs to! Heavy and it wears perfectly under a full face of makeup known for solving skin problems in both men women! Like Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gentle Cleansing Lotion instantly removes makeup and hydrates skin in one product that our! ] Now, letâs come to the main point - Neutrogena Hydro Boost mask reddit is not easy the. Feeling you mentioned, supple, and hydrated day after day a atom... Ingredient in this line of products is hyaluronic acid molecule and a sodium atom in solution '' on of. Have most loved sunscreens/Spfs from Neutrogena is wonderful because you will get all the important ingredients in one product,!

Columbia Glacier Tour, Best Acoustic Guitars Under $1500, Ventura Police Breaking News, Current Weather-lake Placid, Ny, Hot Cheeto Mozzarella Sticks Air Fryer, Networking For Dummies, 11th Edition Pdf, Ogx Bamboo Fiber Full Dry Shampoo Foam, All My Life Chords Wild, How To Start An Essay Introduction,

Can this blessed ‘Corona’ situation possibly have an upside?

As a Life Coach, Steve feels a strong urge to help people not only to cope with this spell of uncertainty, but “hopefully to emerge from it stronger than we were before this crisis started; when, unfortunately, we took so much for granted. Like many similar global calamities before it, including world wars and pandemics, this virus-spread will change the world because mankind will make new discoveries and adapt new practices,” he tells me.

To make his points clearly, he starts by expressing a few basic – important – presuppositions, or concepts, about Life. Anyone who has ever attended his workshops, or talks, or even follows him on Facebook may find these familiar, even if somewhat controversial.

Why change? I ask. Change, he says, will always happen, whether we like it or not, whether we want it or not, and whether we’re ready for it or not. In fact, “change” is perhaps the only certainty we have during our lifetime.

When change happens externally—in our environment—we get affected too. Sometimes we are affected directly, at other times indirectly. Sometimes we are affected a lot, at other times, not.

“Since everything in life is connected, anything that happens anywhere in the world will affect everything else, even if perhaps in the minutest way, but a chain of events will have been precipitated. This is known as Cause and Effect. So, always expecting change is a good start. Accepting that certain events are inevitable because there is more in life that is out of our control than there is that’s within our personal power is another essential step. The past is what it is. The present is more within our control. Consequently, being able to expect, accept and even embrace change—whatever its form or outcome—is one of the most important life-skills anyone can have. The opening lines of the “Serenity Prayer” express this perfectly:

So, we have to accept that things go wrong, change our lives, shatter our dreams more often than not. Where do we go from here? His answer: “When things go wrong, what is ‘actually’ happening is that these events would not be going as we had planned or as we would have liked them to go. Here is a harsh truth: In the bigger picture, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way for things to go. This may sound strange, perhaps even objectionable, but in Nature everything happens out of necessity, not for the advantage of anything or anyone. Birth and Death are normal, ongoing events that are equally necessary and interconnected. Our false sense of ‘self-importance’ as a species makes us (humans) believe that whatever happens in the Universe is ‘about us,’ when we are merely a miniscule particle in the vastness of the ‘Big Picture’. Nothing is about us! We are simply minor components of an infinite whole. Of course, some things will change because of our actions— such as ‘climate change’ for example—but it’s not so much because we are in charge of anything. It is rather because we are participants in an ecological environment where every action can prompt a reaction.”

He then quotes Khalil Gibran from his monumental work The Prophet to illustrate our place in the scheme of existence. “When he is asked to speak to the fold about children, the prophet Almustafa says,

Life’s longing for itself. We need the humility to admit that we humans are incidental rather than instrumental to Life. Events will unfold as they must—one way or another—and we can either stress ourselves because we wanted them to unfold differently, or do our best to adopt and flow, surviving in the process as best we can.

Because we are complex living beings, we may not be able to control our emotional responses to our surroundings, but we can often adjust our reactions; hence our conscious thoughts about them and, as a result, we change our feelings.”

We know that we are different from one another and therefore we inevitably react differently to circumstances. Says Steve: “Yes, our personalities have been layered over the years from a mix of different experiences, to say the least, so no two persons are identical. Our behaviour, therefore, will be different as will be our response to the current situation. For some it will be more stressful than for others.”

“Stress,” he says, is an emotional response. “It varies between individuals. Those who generally do not seek external factors to energize themselves, also known as “introverts,” may find it easier to be indoors for prolonged periods, engaging themselves and remaining calm in their own or in limited company. They are used to it. Those who generally need a lot of interaction with other people in order to keep themselves fully charged, also known as “extroverts,” will probably react to the need for isolation with more stress and might struggle to keep calm and engaged while at home alone or in very limited company. They are not used to it.”

Then there are the anxious amongst us. What about them? “Those who are prone to “high anxiety,” meanwhile, need to be kept in our focus. They may need to be reminded that this is a temporary state of affairs. It is a storm and all storms eventually subside. This, too, shall pass! But we all need to be responsible and patient, appreciating the shelter and safety of our homes. My heart bleeds most for the lonely and the homeless. I wish we could all afford them more solidarity during this winter of dull global health.” Anxiety is a natural response that is intended to protect us, he comments: “Do not be surprised if you feel more anxious or worried than usual, especially at times like these. We humans are hard-wired to notice even the first signs of danger and our brain immediately goes into overdrive to keep our bodies safe. The snag is that this “stress response” that we experience as anxiety, as essential as it is for our survival, may be too much for some people to handle in certain circumstances. Our brain does not know when the bad news is fake or exaggerated, so it produces the same response as when we are faced with real danger.”

What can one do to reduce stress? “Use rationale to reason with yourself, as much as possible, to lessen your “imagination” of what might go wrong. Since anxiety results from ‘physiological’ responses in the body, it helps to focus on your breathing to help your brain slow down and calm the rest of your body, releasing better-feeling hormones. If these measures aren’t enough, seek help, but be aware that you are not alone. There is always help for anyone ready to help himself.”

Everyone seems to think that after this trying time our lives are going to change – some say radically, others in small ways. So, what does he read in his crystal ball about this? “These new circumstances are forcing us to change our ways of working, our daily habits and our attitude towards life. How lasting these changes will be remains to be seen. Some of us have had to adapt to working from home. Most of us have limited our movement outside the house to an absolute minimum. Some are in strict quarantine. At the moment, we are not buying clothes or gadgets, except perhaps online. Streets are quiet and entertainment outside the home is on hold. For the most part, we became more conscious about the need to economize on our consumption, realising that we need to keep our homes stocked perhaps for longer periods than originally thought. Hopefully, waste may also be greatly reduced as a result of our predicament.”

Steve continues and says that we seem to be returning to the Past in some ways. “This includes a renewed awareness in the need for public hygiene. During the Second World War, the British Ministry of Health issued posters with the catchy phrase, Coughs and Sneezes spread Diseases. This education was particularly important since people would often be huddled in bomb-shelters for extended periods. Evidently, this is still a good axiom for us to keep in mind too, now that we face such difficult times. The pendulum seems to be swinging toward the other extreme. Thanks to our greatly reduced transport by motor vehicles and an extensive suspension in air travel and tourism, even Mother Earth is having a break from our incessant fuming and polluting.”

We know only too well that the threats facing us are not small. They are economic as well as health- and wellbeing-related. “Let us not underestimate how this can affect us and others in our country, to what extent and for how much longer. What is lacking, perhaps, is a sense of urgency amongst many whose habitual irresponsible nature compels them to abuse their freedom, breaking rules and increasing the risk for others. That said, let us not exonerate ourselves from doing our part.”

Steve emphasises that everyone is connected. While some of us are more prone to certain consequences, no one is exempted. He gives a few examples: “Some people may be more financially stable than others yet have much more at stake economically in these perilous times. Some have the security of a pension but are more at risk healthwise. Some of us have relatives living abroad and may be worried, while others may have elderly parents whom they cannot visit So we are all pretty much in this together. Especially in times like these, it would be very unwise for us to compare ourselves to others. We simply need to do our bit and count our blessings.”

He points out that we all depend on other people to get through this difficult time. “But soon enough we may be looking back and perhaps we’ll have difficulty remembering the detail of this bleak reality, because we shall have won the war against the darn virus and moved on.”

But this is not the first threat to humanity’s survival, and it won’t be the last. “Dire situations tend to bring changes and progress too. Action and reaction often go hand in hand. World War II brought a huge leap in air travel, a dramatic development in other means of transport and advances in communication. Previous epidemics forced nations to improve health services and caused advances in medicine. There is always an upside, even in this crisis … whether or not we are able to see it yet. For one thing, petty differences seem to fade in the background and, so much that we believed was important before the crisis has been overshadowed.”

What qualities do we need to get through this bleak episode as quickly as possible? “The first is discipline. Without discipline there will be chaos. With discipline there will be progress. The second is patience. I remember having an MRI scan a few years ago. I am rather claustrophobic so my tendency would be to panic but knowing that it would be over soon and because I was kept occupied (by the earphone music provided to me) it seemed like a short dream that was over before I knew it.” The third requisite is to have a plan. He explains: “Your emotional wellbeing depends on making the most of your time at home. Prepare lists of activities you need to get done. This could be the time you’ve always dreamed of to (finally) sort out those drawers, or mend stuff, or spend time enjoying your pastimes. Be prepared. Make contact with friends without getting together physically. Share ideas and resources with others.” He emphasises that we need support for one another. “Let us find ways to stay connected, to reach out – especially to those who find it hard to be indoors for too long or who suffer from depression, and not assume they should be the ones reaching out to us if they need help. If you can think of anyone, especially of the elder generation or who suffers from unpleasant emotional conditions, use the phone or any online means to make contact regularly.”

He emphasises that we also have to be aware of what he calls ecology, meaning that we are in the same boat. “Actually, we are much like the crew of a submarine, where anything you do affects the rest of us, and vice versa. Let us exercise respect and selflessness, as opposed to panic buying, breaking quarantine, scaremongering or anything that affects society negatively. A truly civilized society should not require laws to keep its members in check, but alas we are not all civilized enough in our behaviour.” He cautions us about using words because without realizing we may be affecting others negatively instead of spreading calm and hope. “Avoid words that are loaded with drama. Catastrophizing, exaggerating and over-thinking are ways of creating anxiety. Without letting our guard down, let us share kind words and respectful humour. Let us consider how we speak to ourselves and to others.”

What lessons can we learn from this? “There is so much more that we ‘cannot’ control than there is that we can. What we ‘can’ control involves what relates to us, especially our words, our thoughts, our actions and our reactions. Assume responsibility for your actions and for your wellbeing. Avoid blaming others unnecessarily. Accept that the situation is the way it is and we need to make the most of it while it lasts. .As the old song goes, “I can’t stop the rain by complaining.” But I can avoid getting wet (feeling depressed or bored) by taking steps to remain dry (to do what I can to avoid hardship for myself and others).”

How can this awful situation possibly affect us in a positive way? Is there a proverbial ‘silver lining’ here? Steve is ever the optimist. “More than one, actually. Recapping some of the points made earlier, we have the following: Because of the fear of dying this situation has spiked religiousness in a lot of people, although this may have been spurred by the wrong motives in some because to turn to one’s God only when one is afraid points to a devotion of convenience. In my books “Gratitude is the only form of prayer,” so I prefer being grateful for all that is working in my life, rather than praying for protection, prompted by fear of a present threat. On the plus side, this made many people reflect and not take their life for granted.”

He points out that we have seen an increase in solidarity and even witnessed support being offered to complete strangers. “We experienced extraordinary human kindness in sharp contrast with the selfishness demonstrated by those whose actions jeopardized the stability of the nation.”

Another silver lining? “There is the fear of running out of rations. While fear may be irrational and ill-founded, in recent weeks we found ourselves curbing waste. A need to reduce and control our consumption makes us more human than machine. Such a situation also makes us realise what truly matters in life. Many people may have needed this jolt in order to realize that needs and wants are not the same thing and that you cannot eat possessions.”

Those of us who weren’t aware that security is a myth soon realised it. “Seeing how such a misfortune – that was out of our control to begin with – could reach us in a flash from the other side of the globe and how it forced us to close shops, cancel events and stay at home – risking our livelihood in some cases – may bring us to our senses before we pass judgement on socially emarginated people. Losing one’s job is enough to render a person homeless from being unable to pay rent. Let us refrain from labelling homeless people as addicts or lazy. Our own security is a fragile as the leaves on a tree. On a personal note, my life and career were going splendidly a few years ago, or so it seemed on the surface but in a flash – in just one moment – my whole world crumbled. It felt like my success story was cut short and coupled with a horror movie so there I was, in total disbelief, having to start over in my mid-fifties. My safety (“luck” if you will) lay in the fact that I did not have to pay rent and we had a second income, but I learned at that moment that security is a myth.”

Another silver lining is the practice and importance of washing our hands as a vital necessity. “Let us hope this practice stays with us for a couple of generations.” Then the need to cover our mouths. Steve comes up with some interesting facts: “The University of Bristol’s 2019 research indicates that “the airborne transmission of diseases, including the common cold, influenza and tuberculosis, is something that affects everyone with an average sneeze or cough sending around 100,000 contagious germs into the air at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.” We should all be very aware of this, rather than casual about public hygiene.”

He reminds us that this is a unique occasion to have time to ourselves. “Rather than struggling with it why not actively think of ways to interact with friends remotely and look up online or other resources related to their interests. If you are working from home, don’t become sloppy. Keep yourself in top form.

This is an opportune time to interact with your family, discuss topics of mutual interests, watch movies together, or do other activities… together. We must not forget that we are in this together.”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply