It’s been quite awhile since I posted on this blog-its just been too hard to think much about anything other than the state of our world, and that is just overwhelming at times.

The pandemic that we all thought would be behind us by now is ongoing and there is no end in sight. Face masks are the new normal -no longer does it seem apocalyptic to me. (that in itself is disturbing!) We only socialize with our friends outside but as the weather changes, so will the opportunity to gather outside. I’m dreading that for sure.

The racial tension, climate change and overall leadership in this country only make matters that much worse. I’m scared that our country has fallen off a cliff and is hanging on by a few fingers at most. We will have to pull ourselves back up slowly to create a better place for all of us to co-exist.

Politics and world issues aside, we’ve all heard it said that if we make it through this pandemic and remain healthy, that’s enough. I hear ya, but that’s not enough for me. So here’s how I’ve been “doing the best I can”.

Staying Active

While I’ve spent plenty of time ruminating about the state of the world, I know that for me to stay sane, I needed to focus on staying busy and active. I have tried to balance my emotional roller coaster with a lot of outdoor activity, which is the only part of my day that actually feels normal.

Whether I’m hiking, biking, playing tennis/pickleball or just taking a walk, being active and outside is what works for me. Not only is it good exercise, it’s also good for my soul. It reminds me that life is good even in these troubling times.

And breathing fresh air is HUGE! (Unless you live near a fire and the haze is unbearable) And if you don’t have fresh air around you, I find that taking 5 deep breaths can really help with stress. I try to do this at least once a day.

Reaching out

I also try to keep in touch with people who are important to me and make sure they are doing ok-especially my friends who are single and may not have regular contact with others. I want them to know that they are in my thoughts, and that I am here to listen if they need a friend. It’s tough for people to want to vent or bitch and moan when we are all dealing with the same issues, but sometimes it really makes a difference.

Podcasts

Podcasts are something new for me during this pandemic and I have found some of them to be on topic and easy to relate to. I’ve been enjoying Brene’ Brown’s “Unlocking Us” series. She’s a great conversationalist and I like her style. Recently I listened to one of her recent podcasts entitled “On My Mind”. https://brenebrown.com/podcast/on-my-mind-rbg-surge-capacity-and-play-as-an-energy-source/

During this podcast, she refers to “ambiguous loss” which is discussed in further detail in the link below. I definitely relate to this-I’m an overachiever and I feel the loss of my typical way of life , as well as socializing with my friends and family in a normal environment. I encourage you to read the article when you have time.

https://elemental.medium.com/your-surge-capacity-is-depleted-it-s-why-you-feel-awful-de285d542f4c

None of what I’m doing these days is profound or unique, however I am hanging on and getting through-If you’re struggling during these times, perhaps one of my ways of staying sane will be of interest to you.

Stay healthy!