Decades ago I made friends with a woman who was nearly 90 years of age. She'd been a teacher all her life and in her ninth decade had a strong, healthy mind. During one of many conversations with her, Beulah told me about living through the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. Her father died during that time leaving her with a lifelong emotional scar. Beulah lived in a Chicago suburb and at that time it was customary for a family who had a death to place a large black cloth banner on the outside of the home door. She vividly recalls observing in her neighborhood that every third house had a large black cloth banner displayed. She told me "one out of three" families on my street had a death due to the flu.
Here's my take away from that conversation.
Have no fear!
Covid 19 is nothing like the Spanish flu of 1918-1920 which claimed one-third of the population.
Covid 19 death rate continues to be less than one percent for the general population but is higher among those with weakened immunity systems, especially those over 60. Older adults are more likely to already have underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or respiratory illness. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data more than 95% of COVID-19 deaths were among people over 60 years of age, and more than half of all deaths occurred in people of 80 years-plus. In Sweden, for example, 90% of the deaths from COVID-19 were among people more than 70 years of age.
Covid 19 is unlikely to cause a death in a person who has a healthy immune system. In fact, the best "vaccine" is to keep the body healthy. If you're doing that - and this means eating nutritious meals, avoiding eating out, exercising most days of the week, meditating - then have no fear! Continue to look after yourself physically and spiritually.
Here's the Buddhist mudra (hand positions) to exhibit "no fear". The next time you're feeling anxious about Covid 19 issues, try sitting in meditation for a few minutes maintaining the hand positions of "no fear".
Here's my take away from that conversation.
Have no fear!
Covid 19 is nothing like the Spanish flu of 1918-1920 which claimed one-third of the population.
Covid 19 death rate continues to be less than one percent for the general population but is higher among those with weakened immunity systems, especially those over 60. Older adults are more likely to already have underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or respiratory illness. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data more than 95% of COVID-19 deaths were among people over 60 years of age, and more than half of all deaths occurred in people of 80 years-plus. In Sweden, for example, 90% of the deaths from COVID-19 were among people more than 70 years of age.
Covid 19 is unlikely to cause a death in a person who has a healthy immune system. In fact, the best "vaccine" is to keep the body healthy. If you're doing that - and this means eating nutritious meals, avoiding eating out, exercising most days of the week, meditating - then have no fear! Continue to look after yourself physically and spiritually.
Here's the Buddhist mudra (hand positions) to exhibit "no fear". The next time you're feeling anxious about Covid 19 issues, try sitting in meditation for a few minutes maintaining the hand positions of "no fear".
(public domain image from www.pexels.com)
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