Well, Scotland, you are now not only an ocean away, but a whole lousy virus and travel ban away as well.
Mr. C and I are supposed to fly into Glasgow in nine weeks, however, it’s feeling ever-increasingly as if those plans might get canceled. All hope isn’t completely lost, as I do realize that much can change in that length of time. But I’m a realist, and I have begun to resign myself to the fact that the plans we have had in place for the last nine months simply may not happen right now. I will be heartbroken, of course, but what can we do?
The world is turning fast. It seems that I can’t refresh my computer screen without seeing at least one bold new headline. The events that transpire in a single day now are more than what used to happen in two or three. And it’s not just the virus. It’s our unsettling political climate, the erratic financial market and economic uncertainty, and the worry that there could eventually be a societal breakdown because people won’t be able to keep their wits about them. Things feel surreal and heavy. I know many of you feel that way too.
What can we do in a time such as this? It does us no good to become mired in the doom and gloom or to stress ourselves to the point of mental exhaustion. It’s not good for our psyches, our spirits, or our bodies. We must stay alert, informed, and ahead of the curve. We must be protective of ourselves and our families. We must be proactive and stock our homes with what we need to be self-sufficient. But we must not become obsessed. Buying a few extra packs of toilet paper is healthy. Hoarding or fighting people over it is not.
So in light of all of that, here are a few things that I am going to be deliberate about in order to support my own health during this time of uncertainty and stress. Perhaps you might consider doing some of these things too.
*Practice gratitude for every new day God gives me.
*Go outside – enjoy the sunshine, feel the breeze on my skin, and the rain on my face. Fresh air is a bad thing…said no one ever.
*Limit the amount of time I spend reading and watching the news. I will stay educated and informed, but I will not let the media panic or scare me.
*Eat healthy foods, stay hydrated, and take my vitamins.
*Work on improving my sleep habits.
*Stay socially engaged/show kindness and caring to others.
*Hygiene, hygiene, hygiene.
*Do something I enjoy every day; write, listen to music, bake, watch Netflix, whatever. Just something that relieves stress and brings me joy.
*Pray – for my family and friends, for myself, and for you.
The world is way off-kilter right now, but just remember, this too shall pass. The virus will eventually subside, the market will recover, and by golly, the stores will have a fresh stock of toilet paper.
And before we know it, we’ll be back to doing what we love once again.
Take care of yourselves, friends.
