“To everything, there is a season…”

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

What a strange time we’re experiencing. How’s everybody doing?

Do you find yourself tired and stressed about the coronavirus, especially right now when it feels like there’s no end in sight? (Hopefully soon we will know more about how long this quarantine will last.)

Or are you able to enjoy this staycation to some extent, slowing down the pace and spending more time together? Friends are reading, cooking, cleaning, doing artwork and making music to pass the time.

Still, even the most unflappable of us will have times when we’re susceptible to feeling a bit rattled.

Our daily routines sustain us much more than we know, and when they’re disrupted, our bodies can respond negatively. 

So what are you and your family doing to get yourself through it? My hubby and I are empty nesters, so we have it far easier than most. Still, we realize there are steps we can take to make our days pleasant and fun. Here are some survivals tips. (Although the title says the list is for couples, the tips can apply to anyone.)

Humor seems to be working best for me. My favorite Facebook meme so far is this one:

“This week has been a long year.”

Ain’t it the truth? It so perfectly addresses what it feels like as the anxiety builds, due in part to the fact that we’re all glued to the latest news updates to stay informed.

Here’s another funny one from Facebook:

“Social Distancing, Day 4—Forgot to get dressed. Forgot to brush my hair. Forgot to obsess about the election.” 

Haha! Although I’ll have to admit, for myself and my writer friends who work from home on a regular basis, this is not such an uncommon experience. :)

Across the globe, our collective focus has changed dramatically in such a short time. The worries of last month have receded into the background. One thing I’m trying to take from this is to realize how transient most of our obsessions are. 

If it doesn’t take much from external sources to divert our attention elsewhere, doesn’t that mean we have the capability to divert our own attention away from upsetting thoughts when we need to? 

Food for thought. 

I think we’re all going to learn a lot going through this. 

Back to the humor. Have you discovered the Holderness Family yet? Talented and entertaining, they live in our area and are gaining national attention with their funny slice-of-life videos. Here’s a musical one that offers 20-Second Parodies for Handwashing.

If you have school-aged kids at home, you might appreciate their “best laid plans” vid on Homeschool Expectations vs. Reality. 

I’m enjoying hearing about all the creative ways people are coping, from distance learning (including piano lessons!) to virtual lunches. My book club used Zoom tonight for a virtual meeting, our first. 

In these modern times, we have an extraordinary ability to connect with each other in ways previous generations could never even have dreamed of. 

Which leads me to another way I’m coping: trying to remember to be grateful about the advantages we have.

While most of us are sheltering in place, people who are not able to stay at home are going through a different kind of hardship, one that is likely far more taxing. 

To those of you who are on the front lines, especially healthcare workers, first responders, government employees, and all those re-supplying us with essentials, we appreciate your sacrifices. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We feel for everyone for whom this pandemic presents a serious or even overwhelming challenge, whether it’s fear of the virus itself, or from isolation, concern for a loved one, disappointment over missing an important trip or event, or financial woes as we begin to realize the new realities of 2020. 

If you’re struggling, here are 80 Awesome Mental Health Resources including mental health apps, websites, online forums for support, hotlines and call centers, podcasts, and more. 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to someone if you need support.

No matter where you are with this shift in our daily lives, whenever you need a pick-me-up, remember to go outside, inhale deeply, and realize that, despite our troubles, the splendors of Spring are upon us once again.

We will get through this together, even if we have to lean on each other from a distance for a while. 

Affectionately, 

Elaine