Wednesday, time to write
It has become somewhat of a routine at my house: Wake up, brew a cup of coffee, tune into CNN, see if Gov. Cuomo (oops! well that didn't turn out so good, did it?) is having a press conference and settle into the difficult realization that nothing has changed.... again.
From a macro perspective these days often feel like a never ending slow march towards - not sure what. From a micro perspective, I personally go through periods imagining the hamster facing turn after turn on the same treadmill. I would love to break out and do something, anything different.
My discipline in pre-COVID habits (daily yoga) have slipped. Maybe you out there feel this way from time-to-time, hopefully not always. We could all use are strategies to get through this while remaining healthy physically, mentally and emotionally. Here are a few of the things we can try:
Build a list of people we miss. Then call them, zoom them, arrange to pass them on a walk. Write an actual physical letter. (How long has it been since we did that???) Then do it all again.
Branch out mentally through reading and podcasts. It can be our proxy for travel & entertainment.
After a lifetime of voracious reading, I got "too busy" in the past few years. Since COVID, I've read The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia, A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende, and Little by Edward Carey and just started Barkskins by Annie Proulx.
All Songs Considered and Freakonomics Radio are my podcasts of choice. They substitute for live music and learning new stuff. A great one recently titled How to Make Your Own Luck.
Take advantage of our amazing natural bounty through gardening & canning. I've recently made strawberry jam, rhubarb compote and bread & butter pickles. Patti's flower garden is amazing right now. The time to plant your warm summer crops is right now! Get busy with tomatoes, beans & cucumbers.
Volunteer. Our non-profits can use help and are learning to operate virtually.
And of course, continue to hike in small informal groups, practicing social distance.
Our small group hiked Deer Ridge on Monday. It was magnificent. The best part was hearing Hiker Ginny on the walkie-talkie! She & Niru were hiking Mount Townsend and we must have been in line-of-sight. Hello!!!! Oh, and send me your strategies for staying safe & sane. I will share them among the group.
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