One of the companies that I work for is called Betty Belts. It is a teensy California based company that has a history which few know of, as it is seldom spoken of nor advertised. That little company which was founded 17 years ago March 15, 2003 punches far above its weight in issues of global scale.
So when the COVID-19 panic set in, the company had to take a stand with regard to staff and community in it’s Ventura Retail store.
This is what Betty Belts posted in their and my media feeds.
Some see only storms and rain clouds. We see rainbows.
Due to how our little company is architected and it’s global reach, through various business and research projects which Bettybelts collaborates in, we had been watching the development of a possible China based viral contagion back in December.
We had a close look at it and coincidentally had begun to include laboratory level sanitation practices in our newly renovated flagship retail store here in Ventura, which we are continuing to this day.
Knowing what was headed in well in advance left us concerned, yet not worried. At all. At least not about another pathogen out of China.
In times such as these, new President Franklin D Roosevelt made a statement which stood the test of time: “We have nothing to fear but Fear itself”.
We did increase sanitizing practices once more a few weeks back in order to slow the spread of some pretty nasty seasonal flu viruses which many have had to deal with. This was about practicing good housekeeping and being responsible to our staff and customers.
Coincidentally it does help limit the spread of Covid-19 in the unlikely circumstance of it showing up.
We will not be closing our store. If staff is not feeling well, they are asked to stay home. We have an obligation to be an island of calm in a sea of panic. That is what matters to us, as a member of our Community. #economicpandemic #bethecure #wearyoursunshine #bettystrong #lovealways #davidpuuphotography
Message for “today”. The lyrics resonate and are below.
Breathe
U2
Sixteen of June, nine-oh-five, door bell rings
Man at the door says if I want to stay alive a bit longer
There’s three things I need you to know
Three
Coming from a long line of traveling sales people on my mother’s side
I wasn’t gonna buy just anyone’s cockatoo
So why would I invite a complete stranger into my home
Would you
These days are better than that
These days are better than that
Every day I die again, and again I’m reborn
Every day I have to find the courage
To walk out into the street
With arms out
Got a love you can’t defeat
Neither down nor out
There’s nothing you have that I need
I can breathe
Breathe now
Sixteen of June, Chinese stocks are going up
And I’m coming down with some new Asian virus
Ju Ju man, Ju Ju man
Doc says you’re fine, or dying
Please
Nine-oh-nine, St. John Divine on the line, my pulse is fine
But I’m running down the road like loose electricity
While the band in my head plays a striptease
The roar that lies on the other side of silence
The forest fire that is fear so deny it
Walk out into the street
Sing your heart out
The people we meet
Will not be drowned out
There’s nothing you have that I need
I can breathe
Breathe now
We are people borne of sound
The songs are in our eyes
Gonna wear them like a crown
Walk out, into the sunburst street
Sing your heart out, sing my heart out
I’ve found grace inside a sound
I found grace, it’s all that I found
And I can breathe
Breathe now.
