Across the U.S., states are reopening from their coronavirus lockdowns. Here in Florida, where I live, “Phase 1” went into effect on Monday…

Social distancing measures, like staying six feet apart and wearing masks, are still advised. But many businesses like malls, restaurants, gyms, and libraries are now open to the public at 50% capacity.

In fact, my wife went back to work just yesterday. Since she works in a retail environment – where people come and go frequently – she’s been anxious about it for quite some time.

And it’s not just for her own health. You see, our parents are all older with pre-existing conditions. My father is a 74-year-old diabetic with asthma. So she’s worried she could become a carrier.

But when she came home, she said there wasn’t the palpable fear she was expecting. Instead, people wore their masks, kept apart, and had a relaxed mood. And surprisingly, the store made a bunch of money.

The point is, my wife’s experience is likely a good barometer for how many people are feeling throughout the country. People are anxious about reopening, and adjusting to a new normal will take time.

But as I’ve said before, America has weathered worse. And it’ll be on its feet again soon. In the meantime, let’s take a look at how we’ll get there…

America’s Recovery Path

Last month, I gave you this outline of where we were headed on a path to overall recovery:

  • May–June: We’ll see a soft opening for a lot of smaller businesses. People will start to go out.

  • July–September: Things will start to get back in full swing. We’ll see signs that most of the economy is back at its capacity.

  • December 2020–March 2021: We’ll see a real return to normalcy. In March 2021, year-over-year comparisons will be phenomenal.

And true to my prediction, all 50 states have reopened in some capacity this month, with protective restrictions in place.

Now, we’re in uncharted territories here. So it’s okay to have anxieties and fears when there are many uncertainties ahead.

But the bottom line is, we’re doing our best to move forward while staying as safe as possible.

And that’s likely why the market has been defying the negative headlines – rebounding nearly 33% since the March 23 lows. Remember, the market looks forward.

So despite the doom and gloom, it’s taking the reopenings across the nation as positive news. Plus, trials of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine are showing promising early results…

Leaving Despair Behind

Reopening is here, whether we like it or not. And it’ll be like emerging from the darkness and squinting directly into sunlight… We’ll all need to get used to it.

We simply have to keep in mind that the worst should be behind us for now. Of course, that doesn’t mean we won’t be taking the pandemic seriously.

The coronavirus is dangerous – especially for older people and those with underlying conditions. There’s a lot we don’t know about it yet. And we could see a second wave of cases in the fall.

So we still need to take precautions. Practice proper hygiene and social distancing. Wear masks and wash your hands often.

Don’t let the anxiety and fear overwhelm you… because the reality is likely a lot less scary. Just remember to stay calm and rational. And we’ll get through this together.

Patience and process!

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Jason Bodner
Editor, Palm Beach Insider

P.S. As I told you on Monday, the “why” behind the market’s continued rally isn’t as important as knowing “where” the market’s headed next. That’s how you can really profit on stocks.

Plus, I’m still betting on America’s recovery…

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