Far From Over…

Posted on by serenitisparkles

Let it be in us to know 

Let it be in us to grow together

-Sereniti Sparkles 2021

With reports of variant Covid outbreaks around the world, we prepare for yet another wave of torment.  A wave that will pull at every heart string and bring us to our knees over and over.  

If I stand still and look at what is to come, I can’t possibly have enough space to cherish what is in front of me.  

If so many variants lay ahead, why are we not focusing on what is in front of us.   What is in our control.  Wouldn’t that feel better? 

If we know that when someone smiles it feels better than a frown, then we must also know that putting importance on our bodies and our minds must be our number one priority no matter what is ahead.  

WE NEVER REALLY KNEW THOUGH DID WE?

Was there ever a day in your life that you woke up sure of every element of your future 24 hours?

The answer is absolutely not.  

Sure, there is a grey area that some might say, well, if I knew I could stay home all day, I knew I was going to see the next day.  But if we use logic and our spirit, we know that to be incorrect.  

And what did we do before, when we were uncertain of each day?  We moved on.

Moving on isn’t about ignoring what is ahead.  Moving on is focusing on what is important today.  How can we be the best at who we are?  How can we learn from these viruses so we do better?  Isn’t that what we are here for anyway?

Lessons for our youth: Schools are closed, but the BAR IS OPEN.

Posted on by serenitisparkles

What are we teaching our children if we tell them they can’t go to school, but Mommy and Daddy can go get a drink at the bar? What kind of message are we sending to our youth when their education depends on politics, but getting your nails done is your right as a U.S. citizen?

There is something extremely wrong going on around us and no matter what side of this you are on, you see it too.

All summer long, beaches, bars, restaurants, Target, Walmart, and so many other businesses have been allowed to open, yet your child can’t go to school.

Instead, while many of us are enjoying the retail and hospitality world being open, our children sit inside, being forced to study in front of a computer screen for hours.

Oh and let’s not forget the private schools and daycare’s that are still doing business as usual. Those children are the lucky ones. They get to play and interact with their peers while the other children who’s schooling is paid for by the government do not.

How do we justify that this is ok? How can we really say that it is ok for 50 million kids to sit at home and study, while they watch everyone else participate in the social world?

This is hypocrisy at its finest. We allow the corporations to be open because they own the government. We allow private schools and daycares to be open because it is their right. Where are the rights for the students behind the computer? The government has stolen their right and their voice. We must do better.

Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, and the Pandemic

Posted on by serenitisparkles

The entire world has been shut down in order to defeat COVID-19 from spreading and killing millions of people.  Governments have closed their borders and ordered people to shelter in place.  The US did too, until it was summertime.

Summertime in the US means beaches, pools, parties, vacations, and fun.  Even with COVID lurking at our doorsteps, killing our loved ones, we can’t help ourselves.   While many countries in the world are still stuck inside, state by state, the US began to open it’s doors.  Some states, like FL and Georgia, jumped into summertime too soon.  Georgia and Florida are among the states that are seeing their highest daily numbers to date.   Yet, still, no shelter in place order.

I reside in Georgia and I can tell you exactly why we are climbing in COVID cases rapidly.  It’s quite simple.

I will break it down by using two of the countries biggest corporations.  Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts.

While out driving to different locations to do estimates, I went in to Starbucks to order my coffee and began by heading to bathroom to wash my hands.  I was reprimanded by someone in the back yelling, “BATHROOMS ARE CLOSED”.

There was literally no one in the building but me, my boyfriend and the employees, but I understood their position and left.  Not because the bathroom was closed, but because of the way the employee yelled at me, assuming I should know the rules of COVID restrictions today.

I headed around the corner to Dunkin Donuts where I proceed to do the same.  As my boyfriend ordered our coffees, I go to the bathroom.  Again, it was only us and the employees.  I used the bathroom, came out, grabbed my coffee and went about my day.  NO REPRIMAND or assumption of what I should know.

So let’s analyze this story and we will see why we can’t seem to contain this pandemic.  Two businesses, located within half a mile of each other, same product, two different rules regarding the pandemic.

How are we, the American people supposed to get a handle of how to stay safe during this pandemic, if our governors and business leaders can’t agree on what to do?

Until we have a universal order, enforced by all states in a uniformed way, COVID will run ramped among us.

Georgia’s Dangerous Game

Posted on by serenitisparkles

Russian Roulette is a lethal game of chance in which a player places a single round in a revolver, spins the cylinder, places the muzzle against their head, and pulls the trigger, in the hope that the round does not reach the barrel of the gun and therefore fire.

Metaphorically, Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp, decided to play too.  The gun is Covid-19 and the players are residents of Georgia.  The data as of right now shows 608 new cases in a 24 hour period, and 20% of tests given showing positive with under 1% of the population being tested.  These numbers should be eerily concerning for any resident of Georgia with the State Governor opening it’s doors to the public as of April 24th.

While the rest of the world is playing it safe and enforcing stay at home orders, Gov. Brian Kemp sees an opportunity to stand out among the masses.  For all the wrong reasons.  Human safety is a worldwide concern with Covid-19 taking the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.  50,000 people in the U.S. alone have died because of this deadly virus and yet Georgia, home of Atlanta, decides to do what all doctor’s and scientists have warned against.

Opening too early will have a catastrophic affect on the state of Georgia for years to come.  The Atlanta Metropolitan area makes up most of Georgia’s population with roughly 6 million people.  It is a densely populated area.

As of 2018, Atlanta, GA had 12,800 total hospital beds, of which about 74% were occupied, potentially leaving only 3,340 beds open for additional patients. The bed count includes 1,620 beds in intensive care units, according to data from the American Hospital Association and the American Hospital Directory. Intensive care units are best equipped to handle the most acute coronavirus cases.

This means that when people stop social distancing and Covid-19 infections rise, Georgia will be the next NYC.  There is a potential for rapid increase in numbers because of Atlanta’s dense population.

So what happens when Georgia’s hospitals become too full, more people will die who didn’t have to.  Social distancing allows our hospitals to control the flow of patients and give the best care to the ones who really need it.  Without social distancing and stay at home orders, more people will get sick, more will need intensive care, and Georgia doesn’t have the ability to support the next wave that will come.

Never before in my lifetime has a politician had the ability to put my life at risk.  Never before has a politician been able to make the decision that would inevitably cause more death.  Gov. Brian Kemp decided to play a very dangerous game with the residents of Georgia, I pray that the bullet that is coming be stopped before it’s too late.

Oh Mother Nature, The Irony…

Posted on by serenitisparkles

In the 1970s, chemist James Lovelock and microbiologist Lynn Margulis developed the Gaia hypothesis; the theory that all organic and inorganic components on the planet are part of one self-regulating system, working to maintain and perpetuate life on earth.

As the earth becomes more polluted by human greed, and most of us can barely survive, we must recognize the obvious.

COVID-19 has infected 218,220 and killed almost 9,000 people.  It has forced entire countries to shut down, air and land travel has rapidly declined, and people are being forced to isolate.

Think of the symbolism of what has been taken from us humans since COVID-19 showed up.

Our feeling of security is gone.  Our fun and adventure, gone.  Our food stores are almost empty.  Our friends and family, apart.

Our moments, at a stand still.

Mother Nature has a way of showing us, who is the most powerful.  As we watch the rich and powerful hoard and destroy what is left on this beautiful planet, Mother Nature has made a statement.

COVID-19 will teach us a valuable lesson.

The richest in the world are rapidly losing money as they have to carry the poor.  If they do not assist the poor, this virus will be sure to spread faster and wider.

How ironic that today we watch as the rich scramble to hold all of us up.  Governments are having to tell the truth and listen to the science.  They are forced to donate their billions to save the world.  They know that if the world financially collapses, their billions will disappear.  If they don’t help cure people, THEY may be next to be infected.

Ohhhh Mother Nature, how you really have humbled us this time.  You have forced us to see that no matter the race, religion, or amount of money, WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER.  We are connected.  Hopefully COVID-19 will show everyone that to save themselves, they must save another.  Take time to appreciate that the birds are still chirping, the wind still blowing, and the best place for you to stand is in the sun.