I am watching the news with ever growing anxiety. I worry for my family, friends and neighbors. I look for evidence that our government has a plan that will get us over the challenges we face today. Economic collapse, healthcare systems in chaos, supply chains disrupted — we are in one heck of a mess.
Knowledge Has Raw Edges, detail. Paula Kovarik
My natural mode is self-isolation. I prefer to be alone. But I can imagine that others who are forced to do this will have a hard time adjusting. Bills are already piling up. Grocery shopping requires a battle plan. Visits with friends are relegated to that little screen in our hands. Text messages are replacing hugs. Sniffles feel like serious threats instead of seasonal annoyances. We need to reconfigure.
Un-Disrupt.
The toxicity of anxiety will only make things worse.
Here are some of my diversions for joy:
Browse
Hyperallergic.com has a list of museums that have virtual tours of their collections. The Guggenheim, The Rijksmuseum, The National Gallery of Art, The Louvre, The Pergamon Museum, among many others. Totally amazing.
The Moth has hour-long stories that can make you feel like you are human again. A personal favorite is this one sent to me by Kevan Rupp Lunney, about Joy
Want the real scoop on data? One of my all time favorite websites is Information is Beautiful. They have a wonderful series of infographics that will awe and amaze you. Here’s one about the Coronavirus.
Send me your favorite browsing places
Read
Cozy armchair, cup of tea, soft light and a book — the ultimate comfort food. While the beans are brewing on your stove take some time to nourish your soul. Here is a list of some of my recent excursions along with some of my all time favorites.
Mink River by Brian Doyle, The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore, Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towle, The Overstory by Richard Powers, The Book of Delights by Ross Gay, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stroutt, Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, The Glory and the Dream by William Manchester, The Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson and any Dr. Seuss book you can cuddle up with.
Such a lovely thing that nature creates. This little weed of privet gives me a new direction for thread.
Act
If our leaders decide to send you $1000 (per month?), and you can afford it, donate it to refugee organizations, local bartender and restaurant employees who will struggle, homeless shelters who need more safe beds. We need to pull together.
Start a journal.
Nap. When do we ever have enough time to nap?
Plant seeds. Spinach, lettuce, greens, radishes, peas can all go into the ground in many places right now. The seedlings bring a ray of hope at every stage.
Rest, drink fluids, make stew.
Walk. Outside. With no specific goal in mind.
Make art with joyful color and expressive line. Get out the finger paint and make a mess.
This will pass and we will be better for it.