To MOU Members and Friends:
Our new normal is shaping up to be quickly evolving and stressful. Most of us have not been challenged with anything like the current Covid-19 pandemic where this new coronavirus is spreading in the population. Fortunately, most who are infected have mild or no symptoms. Older people, particularly those with a problem such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease or an organ transplant are at an increased risk of serious lung infection and congestion, and breathing problems. We are being told that we need to slow the spread of Covid-19 in the population – to ‘flatten the curve’ – to give hospitals and the health care providers (physicians, nurses, technicians) the time to care for those who need their care. Right now, reducing the chance and rate of exposure to the virus is the only approach to achieving this. Self-quarantine and social distancing will help slow virus transmission. In the meantime, we need something that is positive and up-lifting to manage our stress about tomorrow and the unknown, and what can be better than birding. From our windows or in the outdoors, we love to watch birds because watching them removes us from current problems and generally makes us happy. Looking at birds as they come to our feeders makes us feel good any time of year. When we can get outdoors to watch birds, we have the significant additional benefit of a ‘nature bath’ which many believe improves our sense of well-being. Watching birds is an excellent way to reduce stress. We often go birding in groups, but birding alone or with another person while maintaining our needed social distancing should make us feel good and help us manage the stresses of the time. As MOU President, I suggest that our love of birds will help us all get through these changing times, and we are lucky that this is our passion. Be healthy and safe, wash your hands, and keep watching. We will get through this. Richard A King, MD, PhD President, MOU Professor Emeritus, Medicine University of Minnesota Medical School Chair, Board of Directors Hennepin Health Research Institute richardallenk...@gmail.com -- ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
