America: 2020 – What just happened?

For the last few weeks, the United States has seen a huge shift in Life. The Corona Virus has scared many people in ways we have not seen for many years. Schools have closed, businesses are shutting doors on a temporary basis, groceries are harder to find, and the government is taking unprecedented steps to help relieve the stress that many of us are feeling.

Some of this is compounded in Midland, TX by the fact that Oil prices have slumped to the $30’s per barrel range. Some of the larger companies were making plans to get back to work until all of this craziness kicked in.

I can not stress to everyone the importance of remaining calm. At times when things are out of our control, the best thing you can do is to take care of Yourself. That means you and your closest family and friends around you. Avoid the “News.”  It is a constant repeat of fear and unpredictability, and it isn’t helping any of us. We all know by now the best thing to do is to not go out if you can avoid it, stay clean and wash your hands frequently and often. But find ways to use your time productively. Work around the house. Play games and read with your children/family. Plan for the future! Because it’s still there!

If this whole virus event took you by surprise and you were not prepared for it, ask yourself what could have been done differently to have been ready? Eliminate Debt. Sell things you do not need and never use to scrape together funds to have a savings account, cash on hand, and be prepared for the next time should this happen again. Stock up on goods you need. You do not need a years supply of toilet paper! But a month or two is not unreasonable. Canned goods, dry goods like rice and beans. Take up a new hobby like Gardening! Canning vegetables. Learn to sew and teach your children this, or knitting, find out what they are interested and read up on that!

Every cloud has a silver lining. Find that! Enrich your life and that of those around you. Anyone can sit around and be frightened. But the winners will be the ones who make good use of this time to improve themselves and inspire those around us to do more and better.

I wish that for all of you. Thanks for checking in.

John A.E. Boswell, Broker