
Tuesday Truth.
Number 57.

Given the levels of fear throughout the world as COVID-19 continues its spread, reaching the official level of a pandemic, I thought that today’s truth would be appropriate.
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.
Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.
– Marie Curie
It is a chaotic time, to be sure. However, we can choose to consciously seek out those glimmers of beauty just waiting to be found amongst the chaos (while, at the same time, practicing #socialdistancing and #washyadamnhands).
The sun still rises and sets each and every day and creates a wonder of glorious beauty in the sky.
The wind still rustles through the trees, carrying little whispers in its passing.
Many of you live in a place where tender buds are beginning to bloom, signaling the beginning of spring. Have you noticed their colors? Their slow unfurling? Their evolution?
I think of my own evolution. Much of the journey is chronicled on this blog. I see how much more I understand now instead of fear. How that understanding has given me tools to reduce the responses of my anxiety-prone nature.
What about your own evolution?
Do you ever just stop to ponder how marvelous it is just to exist?
This is in no way to diminish the real fact that people are dying from this disease. Many of you probably have someone that you love that you’re really worried “if they caught it…”. And perhaps that someone is even you.
However, living in a state of constant stress weakens our immune system. Something none of us want at any time, but especially not when a disease is ravaging our world.
Large swaths of us are in some form of lockdown as we try to do our part to help flatten the curve. While I thrive in silence and solitude, that’s not quite what my life looks like. Miss Sunshine’s high school has been canceled until the end of March (at least). Her first year of Varsity soccer has been put on hold before it ever even began. Her classes are going online. Big Mr. is on spring break (to clarify, not a traveling one…just a no school one), but afterward his college is going online until April 5th (at least). There are many other closings that are coming in daily. One of the saddest for me is the closing of the public library (although I know it had to be done).
I thought I’d share some of my plans to stay sane and offer some other ideas on how to use this time.
- Setting Boundaries. This is not one of my strong qualities. Especially when it comes to my children. However, I have some things I’ve been working on in my silence and solitude and I will be setting some “Quiet, Do not disturb” hours.
- Meditation. If you don’t have a meditation practice, this is a great time to start! Meditation is the main reason that I have learned not to panic in a crisis (I’m a mother of 3…so plenty of experience in crises). I suffer from a propensity towards anxiety attacks and having tools in place to lower that fight-or-flight reaction is crucial to my wellbeing.
- Breathwork. While breathing is an important part of meditation, I’m including it separately. This is because if you start to feel anxious by all the news coming in your direction, a quick way to calm down in to focus on your breathing.
When my anxiety issues first came to light at 18, I went to see my doctor for tingling in my fingers and face, only to find out that I was in a constant state of low-level hyperventilation.
Breathing took an important role in stress management. There are a plethora of patterns that claim to work best. I don’t usually count, but when I tried what my normal pattern might be it’s something like this: inhale through the nose to a count of 4, hold for a count of 1-2, exhale slowly through the mouth for a count of 6-8. I’ve been doing this type of breathing for years, well before I learned about meditation. It’s typically employed on long car rides because I don’t passenger very well. FYI- I really wish I’d employed meditation back in the early 2000s. I was implementing Feng Shui principles into my home so surely I’d heard about it, but honestly I don’t remember having much knowledge about it. - Painting. We had some canvases but were running low on paint, so we remedied that and set up a painting station in the basement.
- Puzzles. I picked up some new puzzles. Growing up, we always had a puzzle that the family was working on. I’m hoping that everyone will pitch in with at least a piece or two.
- Board/Card Games. Nothing like a round of Monopoly to fill hours of time!
- Writing. I’ve had a million ideas swirling around in my head for short stories and novels and still have never committed to putting them to paper. I plan to use this time to change that.
- Taking photos. There is beauty in the mundane, in the simple, in the rarely noticed. I’m going to work on capturing more of that.
- Make a Phone Call. Is there someone that you’ve been meaning to call, but never find the time? This is an excellent time to pick up that phone (or at least send that text). And do be sure to check in on people.
- Study Your Roots. Ever wondered where you came from? The lineage that led to you? Now is a great time to delve into your genealogy. Yes, the fact that today is St. Patrick’s Day and I have Irish lineage is what led to this thought. (read more: Are You Irish? and My Teenagers Had DNA Testing).
- Read. I’ve been making my way through a stack of books. Now, I’ll have fewer things competing for my attention.
I recently finished reading the book, Keep Going. 10 ways to stay creative in good times and bad by Austin Kleon and loved this quote.
You can be woke without waking up to the news.
-Austin Kleon
Reserve your morning time for the things you love before you dive headlong into reading the news which only serves to raise your fears and anxieties.
While you can find many meditations online that may suit your needs, you might also want to consider finding a calming music track and focusing on your heart chakra. The color typically associated with the heart chakra is green. Imagine that a green light is growing in your heart space and imagine that light radiating out and carrying thoughts of love and healing throughout the world. Believe with all your soul that you are touching those who are worried or suffering. Because you are.
It may also be helpful to have a mantra to keep in mind when the world is coming at you so fast that you feel bombarded. Something like, “I choose calm” or “I reside in love and light”.
Please, please, remember to be gentle with yourself and with others. These are trying times and we could all use some compassion and kindness (even on our grumpy days. I’d argue that’s when it’s needed most).
Stay healthy out there.
Don’t forget to tell me what you’re doing to avoid cabin fever. I’d hate for any of you to turn into Jack Torrance (bonus points if you catch the reference).
Pass out smiles, not handshakes. Share with the less fortunate. And stop hoarding the TP!
Let your light shine!
Amy
Hi Amy, you’ve touched on lots of great ways to stay sane and kerb the fear that seems to have gripped the world. What a crazy time we’re living in. Life as we know it has been changed forever. I pray that fear can be transformed to faith and we all ride out this crisis and somehow come out the other side wiser. Keep well and stay safe my friend. xx
Life as we know it has indeed been changed forever, Miriam. I’m praying that the greater good of humanity rises through this and becomes the lasting change. You stay safe and well too, my friend. xx
Thanks Amy. You’ve got to the crux of it my friend. My prayers are much like yours. Here’s to a better world and humanity. ❤️🙏
A great post, Amy, and a message that was timely for me to read this morning. I woke up grumpy and unhappy this morning. Even though it’s barely dawn, I already needed a serious attitude adjustment … and the Universe just delivered 2 ducks to our backyard pool. Yes, there are things everywhere to make us smile. We just have to remember to see them.
Best wishes in this unprecedented weird time.
I’m so glad that the message was timely, Joanne!! I suspect we’ll all have plenty of moments of grumpy and unhappy during these overwhelming times. I love that the Universe delivered you up 2 ducks to your backyard pool!! A few mornings ago, I was counting how many Robins were within my field of vision finding food out in our yard and I counted 8!! And I watched 2 male cardinals chase each other round and round a bush. I couldn’t tell if they were playing or fighting for territory. lol.
Best wishes to you as well.
These little bits of wonder are everywhere and I’m grateful for all of them.
I’m still birding, and hiking…not too many others are doing that so I don’t run into many people, and since my watercolor class is small my instructor is negotiating with the managers of the building to see if we can use it. We’re postponed this week. We’ll see what happens.
I’ll be still doing photography, painting, and hiking as long as I can.
Stay well!
If the rain holds off, I’m hoping to get some hiking in as well. We are trying to get in some outdoor walks though. I saw your “at home” watercolor and it was quite lovely! Nearby, more things are closing daily. And there are gathering limits for restaurants, gyms,etc, so I suspect some of those places may close soon.
I hope that you have a long while of being able to do those things you love, Deborah!!
You stay well too! xx
I hope so too! Get out while you can. Today on my walk up to the mailbox I saw only two others and I crossed the street to maintain distance. We laughed, waved and said hi. 😄
I hope you get some hiking in!
I like the Austin Kleon quote. Very true. I worry that for many people the worry about the worry over this virus will make them ill. I’m an introvert so I’m accustomed to minding my own business, but would prefer to see life return to normal so that I can be by myself because that’s who I am, not who I’m being told to be.
I do try not to get sucked into checking the news first thing. I don’t always succeed, but I do limit my interaction with it. I’m an introvert as well (INFP here) and I will be relieved, on all fronts, when life returns to normal.
I do hope your family is safe and healthy Amy❤️
Thank you, Dee Dee! We are safe and healthy. I hope that you and your family are safe and healthy as well!! <3
You are right, Amy, Fear is also of pandemic proportions. Thank you for sharing what you are doing to stay sane. I love your word “compassion.” Thank you for spreading your light, Amy. It always makes a difference and especially now. Stay healthy!
I think it’s hard to not have fear when this virus seems to be waging war against humanity, but I do think it’s important to not dwell there. We need lots of people shining their lights at this time. And I’ve noticed that there are more and more doing so. xx
My kids are in the same boat with the online school transition. It’s such a strange feeling to have all this time together, and yet not be able to finally get out and do the things we’ve been talking about doing. I’ve been staying sane by reading funny-but-not-so funny memes and laughing at all the hilarious musical spoofs that keep popping up. For me, laughter is the best way to put things in perspective and keep from going crazy in times of challenge and uncertainty.
This online school transition is pretty crazy! I’ve been trying to get outside each day for a walk. That definitely helps me with the cooped up feelings. Laughter is always appreciated and we surely need it now more than ever! 🙂
It’s really hard on the kids. Their lives are so social, I feel sorry for them, especially seniors.
I’ve spent six days sick in bed and am finally feeling like I’m on the road to recovery, and that’s been much worse at this time.
I’m so grateful for my family, my pets, friends on my phone, and the people like you in my puter 🙂
It really is hard on the kids. I can’t imagine if mine were any younger! Some of my friends have seniors. I feel really sad for all the memories that they’re missing out on.
I’m glad that you are on the road to recovery!!
Thoses are wonderful things to be grateful for. I’m grateful for those same things too! 🙂