How are you? How are you feeling physically and emotionally? Our world has changed on a dime. Historically, this isn’t the first time there has been an illness, a plague, a catastrophe, a change to life. In our world of media saturation, it brings information to us all in rapid succession. There sometimes isn’t a break from the craziness! How are you handling it all?
Kids home from school, be it 1st grade, high school or college. Seniors in high school and seniors in college facing no graduation ceremonies or formals or just grabbing the last bit of time for memories. School on line and seeing how our kids have learned things so differently then how we were taught. Parents who have to work but have to worry who will watch their kids. Parents worrying about their parents and their kids. Some people without jobs while other fields have a high demand for workers. So much news out there. News alerts, social media, broadcast news. Stock market concerns, money concerns. Concerns of conspiracy theories, concerns of the well being of our world. Concerns for our health and well being. We are completely exhausted physically and spiritually and emotionally.
So how do we cope? How do we keep ourselves grounded? How do we navigate this crazy world? I wish I had answers and words of comfort. I only see through my scope of vision, through what I am exposed to and my thoughts. I don’t have all the answers but I have many ideas.
We need to take a break from the bombardment of information. Glance at news alerts at certain times. Take a break from social media or TV. Eat well and sleep well. Get some sunshine exposure. If you are home full time, still fix your hair or put on make up. Get a shower, stay in a routine. Stay in touch with your loved ones– yes social distancing advised but don’t isolate yourself. Speaking of touch, in a world of social distancing lack of touch can effect us as well. The hormones that are released from a hug, a touch and yes more can effect our heath. So touch when you can, safely lol. Be sure we get sunshine and laughter in our day. Pray and don’t forget to spend time spiritually to stay grounded and not lose hope. We each are navigating each day best we can and in this world of social distancing, we need to know we aren’t socially alone. Check on each other, your neighbors, the people you love and well heck some that you don’t love.
I work as a nurse and life has been crazy. The unknown and the fear, the planning and anticipating care plans and plans of action. Staying well and keeping others well. There is fear for unborn babies and their moms, elderly patients and their needs and worries. It is honestly a sea of worry. My field isn’t the only one taxed. Grocers, truck drivers, airports, restaurants, banks, manufacturers. We have to pull together and recognize when our co worker needs a helping hand or a laugh or just a word of encouragement. We step outside our bubble to see life through someone else’s eyes
So let’s try not to get lost in the tsunami of life right now. Let’s each stop for a minute, take a deep breath and have hope. Hope that has been laid out in the bible we read, hope in humanity that we have so been lacking, hope that each sunrise brings us one day closer to Covid 19 ending. That we love each other from near and far, that we love ourselves. That we forgive those who have hurt us or continue to have ongoing hurts, that we forgive ourselves for our uncertainty and fear, for our faux pas in life and forgive ourselves when we get lost in the craziness of this world. That we give ourselves permission to read a book, sit in the sun, watch our favorite Scotsman in that sexy kilt, that we enjoy that adult beverage before cocktail hour, that we enjoy the homes we are blessed with and that we find ways to help those that are less fortunate.
We have so much to be thankful for in this life and hopefully this will outweigh the fear and uncertainty of our lives right now. I am going to try to find one thankful moment everyday. I am going to enjoy time with my kids, and admittingly missing ones I can’t see on a daily basis (and try not to miss hugs too much but that is hard. I am a hugger). I am going to have a adult beverage and make sure I get outside daily. I will read steamy silly romance novels and watch too much TV. Organize my daughter’s college items and just try to breathe. I want you to know I am here to listen and chat and will do my best to lift you up if I can. Our ancestors survived smallpox, spanish flu, world wars….all without the internet, without indoor plumbing sometimes, without cable TV. They were stronger than us, had perseverance that we can only imagine. So my friends, let’s put on our big girl panties and our big boy shorts, pull ourselves up by our boot straps and face each day with a spark of hope and love in our hearts and for each other. Be safe and be well!!!
