Wendy L. Bennett

In the early 1970s, The Hollies recorded a song called “The Air That I Breathe.” The artist sings of needing only the basics in life: love and air. If only things were that simple today. Right now, the air that we breathe could prove to be our biggest risk.

The COVID-19 virus has impacted our local economy, strained the resources of our health care system, and put our front-line workers at risk on a daily basis. But now it has become even more personal, hasn’t it? Most of us personally know someone within our family or social circle that has contracted the virus.

Granted, the degrees of illness and symptoms have differed from person to person. But think for a moment about the most important people in your life. What if that person or persons were to have long-lasting complications from contracting COVID-19? Or worse, what if someone close to you won’t survive the illness? Now, what if that person catching it could have been better protected, from your efforts?

With the limitations placed on our daily lives, you can pick any number of “F” words to describe what as we all feel — fatigue, frustration, frazzled and maybe even fear. I hope your favorite “F” word is something more like friends, family, festivities, freedom and the future.

The quickest way to achieve a more positive lifestyle is to defeat the virus. Please be realistic about the danger it poses to our community, to you and to those you hold dearest. Don’t be complacent: Wear a mask. In fact, make it your gift to our community this holiday season.

Wendy L. Bennett is a senior financial adviser at Bennett Associated Wealth Management of Butler.