I am not one to be easily influenced by mass hysteria, but the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has definitely taken me by surprise, as I’m sure it has many others. As I type this, there are 6 new confirmed cases in our community! Unlike health scares in the past, this one has disrupted our lives regardless of age, gender, race and socioeconomic status. With school and business closures, travel bans, stores selling out of basic household products, entire industries coming to a screeching halt and calls for social distancing and quarantines from high ranking government officials, COVID-19 has been unlike any other I’ve experienced in my lifetime. Not to mention, now I have a family of my own to protect, so my response to what is currently happening in the world matters more than ever.
“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”-The serenity prayer
After a day of being paralyzed with fear and anxiety, I was able to regroup and put a few things into perspective. Whenever I feel powerless in any situation, the Serenity Prayer grounds me and brings me back to a neutral place. It reminds me that although I may feel like things are quickly spinning out of my grasp, I always have control over my own actions in any situation I face. Although we have no domain over the virus itself, the reporting of it or how the world is responding all around us, we can control our own actions and take steps to care of ourselves in the midst of the chaos. Here are a few things I can control to make coping with this pandemic just a little bit more bearable:
- Limiting the news/ social media: It’s good to stay informed about what’s happening in the world and our communities, but social media can be very dangerous during times like these. There’s a lot of fear-mongering posts and the spread of fake news everywhere. I’ve decided to limit my social media intake and when I do dare to venture back, get my information from reputable news outlets I can trust.
- Social Distancing is not a prison sentence: Perhaps it’s the introvert in me that is low-key excited to stay away for social gatherings and large groups of people during the next few weeks. But even when I start to get a little stir crazy, we live in a world where we have so many digital tools at our disposal. We have FaceTime, phone, text, podcasts, YouTube and yes, even social media, to help us feel connected to our fellow man. I plan to use them wisely in the weeks to come.
- Connect with nature: Social distancing means staying away from people and public places, but that doesn’t mean we need to stay indoors. When I find myself feeling a little claustrophobic, sometimes a drive, a hike or a quiet walk helps. If the weather permits, we setup the outside patio furniture so that we can grill in our backyard and eat some meals outdoors. I find a little sun and fresh air makes a world of difference for my physical, mental and emotional well being.
- Work on a project you’ve been putting off: I’m planning to take advantage of the fact that the world has come to a screeching halt and that all (if not most) of my commitments are now on hold by working on some projects I’ve been putting off because I never had the time, like revamping the Mad Hearts website and decluttering the attic.
- Take the proper precautions: This week we had family visiting us from out of town and we were really looking forward to taking them sightseeing in NYC, but at the last minute we decided against it. A trip to the city would require taking public transportation and coming into contact with many people from all walks of life. We can’t control everything, but we can do everything in our power to heed the advice of the medical experts by limiting our exposure. I feel much more at ease when I am not putting myself in unnecessary risk.
If you’re looking for something to do while you’re quarantined at home, make sure to check out my new podcast! I’d love to hear how you’re taking care of yourself and your family during these uncertain times! Stay safe, friends!