Don’t worry about my mask, if you got Cheetos in your grocery cart. 

Please do not outsource your health concerns. They start with you and are an accumulation of all the decisions you make. The burden of health starts with each one of us. This is not to say we shouldn’t be respectful and wear a mask while in public during this time, or cover our mouths when we sneeze. However, it is everyone’s responsibility to make the best decisions regarding our individual health — e.g., eat better, move more, go to sleep earlier, and finding ways to mitigate stress. 

Obviously, I’m biased, as I am the center of my own universe. Maybe she was buying Cheetos for the birds or homeless. Either way, her fingers were orange.

We need to be clear on the subject of securing our health first.

Anytime we’ve flown anywhere we hear the familiar instruction to secure our own masks before attempting to help others in the event of there’s an emergency. We’re supposed to do this because in times of crisis, securing ourselves first, allows us the freedom of greater safety. Without securing ourselves, we are more likely to be impacted by the unknowns of the situation, ultimately leading to negative outcomes.

What does all this mean?

Take complete ownership of your health. Those most affected by this virus are the ones who are metabolically challenged, overly stressed, have preexisting conditions or a litany of other issues. The majority of these issues come from years of poor choices. Because health is cumulative, we all need to start making better choices.