Category: Educate Yourself

Customer Service, Educate Yourself, Health Care, Speaking from Experience, The World We Live In

How I’m surviving through Covid-19

reinbeckstudio

Before I get into this post, I will preface by stating that at this moment (Saturday, March 21, 2020) I have not been tested or screened in any manner to confirm whether or not I actually have contracted this virus. Nor am I feeling ill to prompt me to seek testing.

Due to the fact that I work in retail/grocery, I am now considered an “Essential Worker” and my responsibility to show up as scheduled has not changed. If anything, I am picking up more shifts.

Our store, as I suspect with many businesses that are still open, are understaffed. That’s not a complaint, just the fact considering many parents can’t work while their kids are home. Some are home taking care of their family members that are at a higher risk due to their health concerns and some are probably home, self-isolating for their own concerns.

For me, my life hasn’t changed dramatically since last Thursday when the panic in my area (just outside of Ottawa) set in. I’m an introvert by nature, I go to work in town, I don’t leave the 2-mile radius often.

Am I concerned about contracting this virus? I’m realistic in assuming that it’s very likely that I will get it, but I feel that I’m healthy enough to recover from it. My husband works from home and we are stocked with enough food and OTC meds to get by should we have to self-quarantine.

The act of disinfecting the kitchen/bathroom counters, knobs, handles, and switches have been an additional chore that I have incorporated into my morning routine.

On social media, I’ve been encouraging the public to help us (retail workers) practice Social Distancing. Help Us Help You. We understand that you have to restock, you have errands to run, the kids are home and they’re getting cabin fever. This is not the time for a family outing to the store. Please allow ONE family member to do the shopping if you can help it.

Obviously, we are aware that some customers need assistance, some customers are single parents and have no choice but to bring their child(ren) into the store. We get it, no judgment, we are not policing the situation.

I had to clarify my statement when I suggested that one family member should do the shopping while leaving their family in the car. The comment was meant in the scenario that both parents or a responsible adult could remain in the vehicle with the child(ren). But people misinterpret and thought I was suggesting that a single parent leave their toddler in a car seat unattended in the parking lot… I didn’t think that I had to spell it out, but clearly, I do.

For the most part, residents in this area are practicing social distancing. I see others are not. Both parents and their 3 kids in the store running through the aisles, NOT social distancing. A group of teenagers wandering the store because it’s something to do, NOT social distancing. Four college bros shopping together, NOT social distancing. A resident that just came back from Florida, coughing claims they were “tested” at the airport, NOT social distancing or self quarantining for that matter.
Being screened at the airport (temperature is taken) is NOT the same as being tested for coronavirus.

Again, I get it. You’ve been away and just now returning home from abroad, you need food and to restock. Ask your community to help. Social media pages are set up in this area for that purpose. There are healthy people offering to assist with running errands and picking up groceries to drop them off at your door. Let them.

I know that social media is being flooded with all sorts of information, some helpful, some misleading and only creating more panic. Choose to get your information from the source, not some third party and certainly not through memes.

While I do have plenty to say, I will refrain. Lately, my opinions encourage others to treat me as their virtual punching bag.

I’ll leave you with this…
We are in this together, doing the best that we can. While most people will recover from Covid-19, many are at a huge disadvantage. If you have already started the self-isolation process, Thank You. If you have not because you feel it doesn’t apply to you, You are part of the problem. That last bit doesn’t apply to all of the essential workers that are being asked to put themselves at risk.
Stay calm and wash your hands 🙂

WHO:https://www.who.int/

CDC:https://www.cdc.gov/

#MenToo, #MeToo, Abuse comes in many forms, Educate Yourself, Speaking from Experience, Stigma/Taboo

Choose to be part of the solution

reinbeckstudio

In this blog post, I would like to share my thoughts and opinions about something I read yesterday.

While on Facebook I came across a post on one of the (women entrepreneur) groups that I am a member of. Due to the controversial issue, the post was taken down just before I was able to leave a comment. Good on the admins/moderators for taking it down as it had nothing to do with the group; it was a means of getting people fired up and turning on each other.

The article was titled, “#notmetoo” and written by a female that shared her thoughts about the #metoo movement and how it has gone from raising awareness to being used to exploit people. I don’t have an issue with this opinion, as I tend to agree.

I feel that many people don’t really understand what the #metoo movement is all about, nor do they care enough to research the topic. The #metoo movement is about raising awareness, showing just how many people (not just women) that have endured sexual harassment and/or sexual assault. The movement created a platform for many of us (myself included) to know that we are not alone and to show our support to those that choose to come forward.

Is anyone forced into coming forward? No.
You don’t have to out yourself, nor do you have to share your experience.
There is no action for you to take unless you want to.

The author of the article thought that most women have experienced being sexually harassed, what’s the point of saying anything? It was her experience that when it happened to her at work, she said NO and she didn’t have to take any action. The word No was enough, so she didn’t feel like the #metoo movement applies to her.

The author mentioned that if women were stronger, more assertive and weren’t so scared, that they wouldn’t need the #metoo movement and encourages others like her to start a #notmetoo movement.

Here’s the problem I have with that logic. Speaking from my own experience, I was a child, my NO didn’t solve the problem. During my first job out of high school, my No didn’t solve the problem. Some victims are drugged, date raped, overpowered, ganged up on, restrained. Our No, assuming we could get it out was not respected.

Good for her and good for the rest of you that have never had a sexual act of violence forced upon you. Good for you that your No was respected. While you feel that the #metoo movement doesn’t apply to you, you don’t get to diminish the meaning behind it. By doing so, you are basically saying boo-hoo, suck it up, we all get harassed, deal with it.

Trust me, I have been dealing with it, dealing with it for 30+ years because there is no magic cure. I will never be 100%, none of us will ever fully recover.  During times of extreme stress or fear, we all react differently. We either Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fawn. How nice it must be to know how you would react to an act of sexual violence when you haven’t experienced it. Those of us that tend to Freeze or Fawn should not be mistaken for as weak.
Tell me, for those strong, assertive types, if you witness another person being sexually harassed/assaulted, would you help or would you look the other way thinking, suck it up!

The idea of starting a #notmetoo movement is absurd and hurts the rest of us that are trying to recover, looking for support, finally having the courage to speak up. Speaking up IS part of our recovery, so don’t joke about it, make light of the subject or diminish the significance.

The notion of a #notmeetoo movement is as ridiculous as straight people wanting their own “pride” parade. Be glad you don’t need one because your rights and mental health aren’t in danger. You are not the ones being silenced, or not believed when you finally do come forward.

In my opinion, those that are for the #notmetoo movement are part of the problem. Choose to be better, choose to be part of the solution. What do you have to lose?

Sexual harassment is not tolerated in the workplace and Sexual Assault is a CRIME, both of which are never okay.

 

 

 

 

 

Educate Yourself, Immigrants, Just the Facts, Refugees/Asylum/Immigrants

The FACTS about Refugees getting “Free Money”

reinbeckstudio

Welcome Back Blog Readers,

In this post, I’d like to dispell the falsehood of a popular meme that has been spreading across the internet.

Here’s the link to the topic for today:

https://www.politifact.com/facebook-fact-checks/statements/2018/nov/21/viral-image/meme-makes-false-claim-about-refugees-social-secur/?fbclid=IwAR0M6sKKDVSBUUThLJfY1PfcA4jcSXshmavQH84vO0B11UVRJF6woKKV49U

Just a reminder folks, anybody can create a meme about anything; it doesn’t mean it’s true. While there is an abundance of great information on the internet, there is also a great deal of misinformation.

It only takes one second to share false statements; why not take a few more seconds to verify the information before you share it.

Here are the FACTS as it applies the refugees in the USA:

https://immigrationforum.org/article/fact-sheet-u-s-refugee-resettlement/?fbclid=IwAR1tLY-3M5lkKjtYu9rV0sis1Jx0dw6IjlZG4cuv2Eo9O1fUF_DUZ-q5o7U

Here are the FACT as it applies to the refugees in Canada:

https://ccrweb.ca/en/refugees-social-assistance

Here’s a PDF that breaks down the amount(s) and length of time that the various payments are dispersed to eligible refugees and their family.

http://www.usccb.org/about/resettlement-services/upload/Refugee-Assistance-2.pdf

Do refugees receive financial assistance? YES, many of them do if they qualify and are eligible.

How much money do they get each month? That amount varies from State to State and Province to Province as well as other factors.

How long are the payments received? Depends. Sometimes it’s a one time only payment. Eight months is the cut off for most, but in some circumstances, refugees could receive payments a bit longer.

Do refugees receive payments right away? NO. In many cases, refugees have to obtain proof/documents and meet certain criteria before they are deemed eligible. Each family and reason for their refugee status varies.

If you have any further questions, I encourage you to do a bit of research. Google is your friend.

Learn to think for yourself and stop feeling obligated to jump on the refugee/immigration bashing bandwagon. That mentality doesn’t make you more “patriotic.” If it weren’t for immigrants/refugees like your grandparents/great-grandparents, you wouldn’t be able to call yourself a proud American.