It’s Almost 2021 – And I think I’ve survived
By:  Deb Sutton

  Let’s face it, human beings are for the most part social animals.  I believe that hermits like Walt Whitman, Grizzly Adams, and the Unabomber are few and far between.  Not too many of us choose to pack up and travel to the wilderness to be far away from it all. 
The 2020 Pandemic (the Corona Virus) will most definitely go down in history as a very uncomfortable time.  Although, like most anything there is usually a silver lining.  We learned a lot about the “new normal” and honestly, some of it is not too bad. Let me share some of my thoughts about the silver linings of 2020 along with the negatives (or storm clouds) of 2020.  I am in the state of Florida so I am familiar with what goes on here versus other states.    

Family:  On the plus side, due the virus, many families got closer.  Immediate family members were forced to shelter in place and not go off on their separate adventures for a long time.  Being together brought out new ways of living together as a family unit.  Game nights, movie nights and other inside activities were prevalent. On the negative side, families that do not live close or that are high risk to catch Covid 19, were separated and isolated from their loved ones.  The elderly being the highest risk, suffered greatly.  Many Grandparents were forced to stay away from personal visits with their grandkids.  Brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles who lived far away, could not travel for a visit.  Children also suffered the negative effects.  Wearing a mask, being told it was because of a deadly virus and other sobering realities is a cruel thing for little ones going through this.  Especially given that young children have a very low chance of catching the virus.
Work:  The new normal for work has positives and negatives.  On the up side, many who were working from home found that it added extra time and money to their budget.  Not having to commute, especially the city dwellers (NYC, Chicago, and LA/SF) found they had extra dollars each pay period. They saved on gas and wear and tear on their vehicles/commuting methods. The down side to the individual was that many lost their jobs or were furloughed.  The negative to the business owner is that they lost business which in many instances could not be recouped.  Many small businesses had to severely downsize or close altogether.  Additionally, business small and large lost great employees that ended up taking jobs with other employers.  
Business:  Businesses were thriving prior to the onset of Covid.  Many small businesses as well as certain industries suffered the wrath of Covid.  Restaurants, Hotels, the Travel Industry and Movie Theaters saw sharp decreases in activity due to the virus.  Just prior to the onset in the U.S., the stock market and the economic indicators like unemployment and the GNP were healthy and soaring in some cases.  Time will tell what the outcome will be of some of these industries and small businesses.  The silver lining is that new entrepreneurial ideas popped up and new products and services that are related to infection control and mitigation were developed and marketed. 
Politics:  This year marks the touchiest political year that I can remember and especial the presidential race.  The country was pretty close to split down the middle for each candidate.  Close election calls for the House and Senate happened as well. As of this writing, the Electoral College has not met so the Presidential candidate has not been named.  There is also much debate on both sides about election fraud in many states.  The investigations and law suits are pending.
Religion:  Churches, another part of our society that has suffered, are struggling and are doing many different things to stay active and open.  Some are open and require masks, some are open and do not require masks, and other accommodate for both mask wearers and non-mask wearers.  In Florida many of our churches meet in schools and with the Covid onset, schools stopped allowing churches to meet in their facilities.  This possibly created a financial hardship for those organizations as well as creating a dilemma to the general population of church goers who suddenly found themselves not having a church building.  The silver lining is that technology enabled them to have on-line church.  Once again though, many of our elderly population are not tech savvy.
Education:  For the first time that I am aware because of this virus, kids were prevented from going to school and in some cases starting school in the fall.  Additionally, many moms made the decision to homeschool, that in “normal” circumstances would not have done this.  This has put much extra pressure on working moms.  And, children of all ages are definitely suffering as a result of not getting their social needs meant. The fear factor of death and illness the virus represents must be terribly frightening to young children.  I am hard pressed to think of many positives here.  Hopefully history will show that the kiddos didn’t suffer setbacks in learning or social skills.
The vaccine for Covid 19 is close to being distributed and the predictions indicate it will be available 1st quarter 2021.  Time will tell how things will progress in 2021.  Will things go back to how they were before?  I somehow don’t think so.  Some of us are good with change and some, not so much.  I just hope and pray that first and foremost the death toll stops.  Next. that our freedoms and liberties are not in jeopardy of being taken away.  Concerns for this has been spoken in many different venues:  heard from my friends, family, news media and other sources.  I pray that the world as we know of doesn’t become any worse for the wear because of the Pandemic of 2020.

Anti-Aging Hacks
By: Deb Sutton

  Aging is an interesting phenomenon.  For instance, did you know that once you hit around 40 years of age, whether you're a man or a woman, your body starts aging FASTER than normal? Studies have shown that without the proper nutrients and exercise, your body will age about 6 months EXTRA for every year that passes. This is shocking (at least to me) to think about. If you are 40, that means by the time you hit 44 you will LOOK and FEEL 48. And by the time you reach 60, you will LOOK and FEEL 70 YEARS OLD!
Did you know that 90% of people over the age of 35 lose enough muscle every year to burn off an additional 4 pounds of body fat? That means you not only lose the only thing on your body that creates shape, tone, and strength—you also gain more fat every year, even if your calories stay the same.  YIKES!
Did you know that all of this is reversible at any age? That there are specific ways to move, eat, and think that tell your brain to STOP this rapid aging process... and even SLOW IT DOWN to the point where you're aging less than a year for every year?
According to the research that I have conducted, this information seems pretty accurate. Often we think we need expensive creams, supplements, or other gimmicky marketing tricks to fight aging. But I don’t buy those marketing ploys in all cases.  Here are some of my favorite Anti-Aging Hacks that I think will work for anyone, male or female, and at any age. 35, 45, 55, 65, 75... you name it.

•  Preparation H  – is a fabulous way (easy to find and inexpensive) to reduce under-eye swelling and dark circles.
• Coconut oil, lavender and vitamin E – a recipe for Eye Cream you can make yourself…
• Tea Bags – Great for eye bags
• Coffee grinds – great for dark circles
• Sunscreen, Sun Hats and Sun Glasses – the sum can do a number on your skin
• Quit smoking – Smoking ages you – especially around the mouth (those lip lines).
• Limit alcohol – heavy drinkers age faster
• Make-up – They say less is best as you age and I have found this to be very true.  Find products that conceal dark circles, soft lip colors, light weight foundations etc.
• Hair Color and Style – Keeping one’s hair color lighter and brighter.  Don’t recommend going grey unless you really look good in it.  Staying current with popular hair styles – I recommend conservative though, something about granny’s with green or purple Mohawks – yea/no.  There are several apps that let you try out your face with hair and makeup.  This is both fun and educational.
• Exercise – from a person who hates to exercise it has been proven that work-out routines can add to a more youthful look.
• Good health habits are important today for many reasons.  Being a wise consumer and frugal spender can be advantages as well.​

​HR Prose is published quarterly and written by Deb Sutton, HR Pros, LLC, an HR Consultant, specializing in consulting with small and medium-sized companies, employee recruitment and direct staffing and career coaching. www.hrprosllc.net. 941-776-0996 business. debsuttonhrpro@gmail.com
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​HR Prose is published quarterly and written by Deb Sutton, HR Pros, LLC, an HR Consultant, specializing in consulting with small and medium-sized companies, employee recruitment and direct staffing and career coaching. debsuttonhrprollc.net. 941-776-0996 business. debsuttonhrpro@gmail.com

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