Vicky Blogs: COVID-19 (& beyond)

I last posted about this topic back on February 18th.  Since then, the warehouses workers in Bessemer, Alabama have had their time to cast their votes on the issue.  More than 5,000 ballots were mailed out to the workers of BHM1, the building in Bessemer.  The vote that will decided if these individuals will join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union was closed on March 29th. I've been reading up on this topic, trying to understand how both sides are communicating with the workers.  The RWDSU communication is mostly trying to let employees know that it is their right  to be able to vote on this issue, regardless of what else they might hear.  It is also important to note that they are informing workers that Alabama is a right-to-work state, which means that workers at unionized companies can opt out of paying dues.  Amazon, on the other hand, is inundating their workers with anti-union messaging and often resorting to intimidation, which ma...

  I have been surprised multiple times over the past couple of months by the way one phrase can have a truly profound effect on me.  I've been feeling the winter slump especially hard this season, which definitely has something to do with the COVID-19 pandemic and the length of time that we all have been feeling off.  I've always been somewhat effected by the darker days of the frigid winter because I feed off of the energy of the sun and my ability to be outside in nature.  But this season is different.   Whatever effect winter normally had on me or the average individual in a regular year seems entirely multiplied.  We've all been staying at home, wearing masks, working remotely, not having social gatherings and generally just being isolated from anything that is normal for over a year now.  Add in some darkness at 4pm, freezing temperatures and news stories that continue to posit that we aren't out of the woods yet, and it makes sense why this ...

  Today I read an article  published by Thrive Global  with a very bold title, one that enticed me to click and read more.  The gist of the title suggested that 'work is the single most important way of proving your worth in the U.S' and it is 'making Americans miserable.'  Our country very much still lives with a protestant work ethic as somewhat the ideal for individuals.  In this view, being a hard worker is a sign of one's value as a human.  Additionally, our public policies are built on the concept of 'deservingness', which is defined by working a traditional job. Now, it is true that not all countries share this ideal.  In fact, most European countries, tend to value leisure over work and benefit from a higher level of life satisfaction because of that.  The top 5 happiest countries all have 'strong social safety nets, trustworthy institutions, well functioning governments, high quality of life, and an emphasis on work-life balance, rat...

  Tiny Vicky, Age 4 As you can see from the photo above, I've been an athlete since a very young age.  I chose this picture because basketball is the sport that I've kept up with my whole life and hope to get back into playing.  That is, of course, once I feel appropriately recovered from my spinal surgery and social sports leagues resume post-pandemic. I, for one, have always understood the power of influence that coaches possess.  Be it consciously or unconsciously, I've noticed that my performance on the court could change based on who  I was playing for.  I've even drawn on my experience with a few of my coaches for a core value speech in an Art of Verbal Communication class in grad school.  In the speech, I mention three coaches and the impact that they had on me throughout my sports career. More recently, I have felt an incredible emotional wave when I watched Jason Sudeikis as a coach in Ted Lasso  on Apple TV.  I knew absolutely noth...

I've talked about pandemic fatigue in a previous post.  Pandemic fatigue is when people get tired of the pandemic measure and become less likely to follow public health recommendations.  Basically, its when people are just exhausted about how long this whole COVID-19 has lasted.  Unfortunately, for those areas that experience a true winter with freezing temperatures and lots of snow, this season has brought with it another problem - cabin fever.  Whereas in the other seasons, there were opportunities for individuals to get outside and see others while still socially distancing, the winter brings less sunshine and even less of a change for outdoor hangouts. It is important to note that some winter sports are still available for those who live near mountains.  I personally am still not ready to get back on skis from my back surgery yet, but I do plan to try out snowshoeing one weekend at a mountain area close enough to drive to.  These ski resorts are also im...