” Routine is very important for well-being, so … write a list of people and activities that lift your spirits; be sure to prioritize time for connecting with others and doing things you enjoy every day.” — Tania Diggory, founder of Calmer.”
… we can also reconnect with those hobbies and relaxation techniques that don’t require a screen — reading, taking a bath, gardening, listening to music, playing music, journaling, writing, arts and crafts, cooking new recipes, stroking your pet, daydreaming … so much to savor and enjoy.” — Kat Hounsell, founder of everyday people.
“Personally, I’m sticking to what has worked for me in the past when I want to be calm — for example, learning and practicing simple relaxation techniques, like breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, mindfulness [and] meditation [which] can all be very helpful in alleviating mental distress.” — Dr. Hans Kluge
Most of these issues and coping strategies came up in my Coping and Healing online group yesterday, which included one member theorizing that the pandemic was caused by a conspiracy of house cats, who want us to be home more. Several cats were attending the group (including Oscar) and none of the cats denied it.
Do you see any coping strategies in my recent photos?
I think letting go of self-judgment, guilt, shame, and worry are important coping strategies, especially during a pandemic.
For a limited time only, as part of Ailey All Access, you’re getting access to watch Alvin Ailey’s ‘Revelations’ in its in entirety from your own home. We hope this rare opportunity brings you a moment of joy during these uncertain times.
Please share your coping strategies during a pandemic in the comments section, below.
Gratitude is always a coping strategy for me, so thanks to all who help me create this daily blog, including YOU.
One thousand, two hundred, and sixty-three days ago, when it was a different world, I published another blog post with today’s title. Now, more than ever, what the world needs now is love, sweet love.
Yesterday, people participating in the world of my online Coping and Healing groups shared that they enjoyed watching this video of Berklee students — alone but together — performing “What the World Needs Now.”
I really need that video and I need to share my new photos with the world, here and now:
Yesterday, I needed that delicious chicken dish, I needed Michael, I needed a walk outside, I needed the cats, and I needed to figure out how to make my new whiteboard work for my online groups.
What the world needs now is
love, sweet love,
any thoughts and feelings you choose to share in a comment, below. and
gratitude, so thanks to all who are showing love during these difficult times (including YOU).
I have invited many people to realize that they are not alone, in Coping and Healing therapy groups and also here at WordPress.
This week, I’m going to conduct five Coping and Healing groups and each one of us participating will be alone in a room because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I may wear this t-shirt while facilitating a Coping and Healing group this week:
I want to be with those who know secret things or else alone. — Rainer Maria Rilke
I don’t want to be alone, I want to be left alone — Audrey Hepburn
The only real progress lies in learning to be wrong all alone. — Albert Camus
Look at the sky. We are not alone. The whole universe is friendly to us and conspires only to give the best to those who dream and work. — A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
If it’s true that our species is alone in the universe, then I’d have to say the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little. — George Carlin
We allow our ignorance to prevail upon us and make us think we can survive alone, alone in patches, alone in groups, alone in races, even alone in genders. — Maya Angelou
When the people you love are gone, you’re alone. — Keanu Reeves
In the online groups I have been facilitating this week, I’ve been inviting people to share their worst fears and also what has been helping them deal with these.
My worst fear is that I won’t leave enough room for people to have all their feelings and what helps is my asking questions like that one.
Do you see any worst fears AND do you see anything that helps in my images from yesterday?
Yesterday, when I was outside in the fresh air, walking around with my heart of hearts, Michael, I noticed hearts on the doors and windows of our neighborhood.
Michael and I exchanged some heart-felt speculations about what those hearts meant. We both believed, in our hearts, that this display of hearts was related to the coronavirus.
When I saw somebody outside this house with hearts …
… I asked her (from a distance) what the hearts meant. She said, “We have health care workers in the neighborhood, so we are showing solidarity, love, and appreciation for the work they are doing for us during these times.” She also pointed out that people were sharing their hearts with the children in the neighborhood by participating in a social-distanced bear-spotting scavenger hunt. I looked around, and my heart rejoiced to see this:
.
I followed my heart to capture other images, which I now send from my heart to yours:
As we enjoyed that heart-healthy meal last night, Michael and I followed our hearts to watch the wonderful movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Here is heart-felt music from the film, composed by Tan Dun and featuring Yo-Yo Ma on cello.
Please follow your heart to the comments section, below.
Every day, I follow my heart here to express my gratitude to YOU.
Here are the rules for somebody like me — who was almost definitely infected by the coronavirus but who could never get tested because of the scarcity of test kits — according to this email from my Primary Care Physician:
In terms of when you can end YOUR isolation (again, I am assuming you had COVID-19), according to the CDC (as of today – I just verified) you can leave your home once you have been fever-free without fever-reducing medication for 72 hours AND your cough has improved AND at least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared. If you are still fever-free after 72 hours (tomorrow? Thurs?) and your cough is improving, I think you can leave your home but if you are still coughing it would be best to wear a mask.
Because my rules include “first, do no harm” I waited a couple of extra days and first ventured out of my home yesterday. My rules include staying away from people and using gloves whenever I touch anything. As I wrote to a friend this morning:
I shall do my best to continue flattening the curve while not getting flattened by all this.
The rules at this blog include sharing photos that rule:
The rules for me, because I have a mechanical heart valve and take Warfarin daily, include my checking my INR at home. Because my INR was so high yesterday (it’s supposed to be between 2.5 and 3.5), my medical team’s rules included my skipping a dose of Warfarin last night and eating more greens. New rules: We think the coronavirus and my taking antibiotics have probably disrupted my INR temporarily. The rules of common sense tell us that this number will stabilize again soon.
