It is imperative that we all adhere to the distancing guidelines that have been issued. The only way to protect ourselves, our friends and family regardless of age is to do this without exception. That is how we protect ourselves and honor those who are working so hard to get us through this and those who have died in the fight.
That said, it is not our nature to not engage, exchange hugs, seek closeness with people. There have been times when I started to approach a neighbor or worker and had to pull up short because I was getting in the zone. The more we stay at home and apart the less these accidental contact events will happen, and we keep down possible spread since if we know anything it’s that we don’t know everything.
It is hard to be still for such a long period, but it can be done. First, turn off the coverage of the coronavirus all day long or even for big parts of the day. It can easily overwhelm you if you hear it for hours on end day after day. I am not saying don’t stay current with what’s happening but limit your exposure. I know my heart aches when I see the numbers and hear the stories of our frontline workers and people who are suffering with this virus. My blood pressure rises when I listen to our politicians pointing fingers at each other. A tremendous sadness lurks ready to take over when I hear the numbers of people who are dying around the world.
Photography by Kate Holliday Photo
What helps me stay calm is to limit my coverage by watching in the morning to see what has occurred overnight and then later in the early evening to see what has occurred during the day. That helps me ease the anxiety. I give gratitude every evening and every morning that I am going to bed or wake up feeling healthy and safe and that those around me and in my life are the same. I say a prayer for our frontline workers in grocery stores, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, truckers, cashiers, etc., who are keeping us going at great risk to themselves.
Then I find a reason to smile and to share that smile with others. To uplift someone else who may be having a bad day. There is a young friend of mine with whom I have been sharing videos of dance moves (and, no, I will not post them). I laugh at myself and we laugh at each other and challenge each other but it takes her mind off what she is not able to do and helps her pass the time. I make phone calls to laugh or reassure friends and family who may be home from work or who lost jobs due to this crisis. We will get through this. We will rise up and move forward and restart our lives and our economy and I would like to think that we won’t give into impulses that will separate us in ways that will keep us apart when we have made it through.