“I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.” – Joan Didion
Inspired by #IKeepMyselfSaneBy on Twitter.
I limit how much news I watch and read. I write every day. I drink water. I read books. I go for walks with my dog. I hang out with my cat. I FaceTime with friends. I do yoga. I go the therapy. I meditate a lot. I color in an adult coloring book. I check in with myself. I submit poems to literary magazines. I listen to music. I listen to podcasts. I watch tv and movies. I get a lot of sleep. I take naps. I find balance. I have hope. I breathe.
Before you press send, check to make sure the information your sharing is accurate. A quick google search will let you know if the information, article, or quote you gravitated towards is correct. You don’t want to be spreading misinformation.
Labeling anxiety and mental health as negative is harmful. Anxiety is a natural response and many people experience it, including myself. It’s not wrong to be worried or feel anxious right now. It’s not wrong to be worried or feel anxious ever. Learning tools to help your mental health can be beneficial. There’s no shame if you have to take medication for your mental health too. There’s no “one size fits all” category when it comes to what works for people. But labeling it as something negative only causes more negative feelings, which doesn’t make things better. Take care of yourself the best you can.
When going outside for a walk, move to the side when passing people. Keep six feet apart as much as possible. Having both people move to the side widens the gap and keeps everyone safe. It’s only common sense not to take up the whole side walk, especially when walking passed people. Form a single file line if you’re walking in a group. Be respectful and practice social etiquette by social distancing.
No one wants schools to close. No one wants people to lose their jobs. No one wants people to stay in their houses. No one wants the economy to be where it is. No one wants to worry about getting sick. No one wants life to change the way it has. But it has to keep us safe. If we want to get through this, which I think is the general consensus, we have to stay home if we can. For those of you who are healthcare workers, grocery store workers, or any other essential workers who have to work outside the house, thank you for all that you do.
Be smart. Stay safe. Drink water. Wear something over your nose and mouth when going out in public. Cough and sneeze into your arm. Wash your hands.
Happy Stuff
The Isolation Journals is the push you need to write right now. – LitHub
Zoom Surprise: Some Good News with John Krasinski Ep. 2 – YouTube
Glennon Doyle Asks Us to “Feel it All” in ‘UNTAMED’ – Hello Sunshine
Emma Roberts on Belletrist, Joan Didion, and Why Now Is the Right Time to Pick Up a Good Book – Vogue
Thanks to Bookshop, There Is No Reason to Buy Books on Amazon Anymore – Inside Hook
King Princess: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert – YouTube
“Portrait Of A Lady On Fire” Is The Perfect Quarantine Watch – Buzzfeed News
Brené on FFTs
Tarana Burke and Brené on Being Heard and Seen
Glennon Doyle and Brené on Untamed
National Poetry Month Books for 2020
Other Links
How to Navigate Public Spaces and More – The New York Times
Social Distancing Is a Privilege – The New York Times
Overcrowding Makes It Hard For Native Americans To Socially Distance – NPR
Social Distancing Might Stop. And Start. And Stop. And Start. Until We Have A Vaccine. – Buzzfeed News
After The Coronavirus Passes, Your World Will Not Go Back To Normal – Buzzfeed News
That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief – Harvard Business Review
Chronic Uncertainty Lessons for a global pandemic, from a permanently sick person. – The Cut
I’m walking down a trail, the concrete is hard beneath my feet. I feel my legs moving me forward. I cross back and forth from the sidewalk to grass, grass to sidewalk, sidewalk back to grass, then back to the sidewalk, when I pass by people. I’ve realized most walk in clusters, uncertain of what day it is or how they got outside. I simmer my frustration with compassion, and continue to focus on feeling my body move forward as the sun falls on my neck. We’re all a little lost right now.
John Krasinski launched a YouTube show the other day called Some Good News. I watched the first episode and simultaneously laughed and cried. I’ve been relishing in good content as much as I possibly can. Whether it’s cute animal videos on TikTok (links below) or watching late-night talk show hosts work from home, anything that brings me comfort is good.
My anxiety has been all over the place lately. Worrying for myself, my loved ones, and those I know can be overwhelming at moments. Yesterday, I was feeling a lot of physical anxiety. Today, it’s lessened a bit. It comes in waves. I know I’m not alone in feeling this way, which brings me both comfort and sadness. We’re all going through this pandemic together as a global community. It can be scary to face an unknown of this magnitude.
What good news and stories have you been digesting? What has kept you afloat during these trying times? Comment below!
Poetry
Again a Solstice by Jennifer Chang
The Flower at My Window by Lucian B. Watkins
The Conditional by Ada Limón
Dead Stars by Ada Limón
FaceTime by Clint Smith
Funny TikTok Videos
That look at the end.
Dog and cat
Standard convo
dear diary
Special inside look
The purest thing you’ll see today
It happens everyday in Antarctica
Human copying dog
Tiny Desk Concert NPR
Rex Orange County
Coldplay
H.E.R.
Harry Styles
I’m not used to having my anxiety come from external forces for an extended amount of time, especially at this magnitude. I’ve spent the last week in my head, trying to avoid the news as much as possible. I have gravitated towards good news, positive quotes, and tv shows while locking my feelings in a closet in my mind. Last week, I meditated a lot. This week, I created endless stories in my head on a loop. Silly stories, happy stories, stories where things turn out alright. This is how I used to deal with anxiety before I found meditation. It’s not that I’m in a bad place mentally, I’m just fearful and as a result, I reverted to my old coping tactics while continuing to meditate and go for walks. I’m still trying to find a healthy balance.
I think the news last week became too overwhelming for me. I was keeping up with it, trying to read as many stories as possible. I know it’s worse this week, I look at the numbers once a day with a pit in my stomach. Many states, including where I live, are on a ‘Stay At Home’ order. The news is overwhelmingly terrifying, no matter if you watch the news, read it online, or listen to podcasts. We’re living in an uncertain time where a large number of people are getting sick and some of them are dying in a short amount of time. I see stories online of healthcare workers sharing their stories of being on the front lines and it’s heart-wrenching to read.
I recently started reading Glennon Doyle’s Untamed and in her book she says, “feel it all.” Whatever you’re feeling at this moment, it’s valid. The times we’re living in are causing stress and fear in a lot of people. When we’re told we can’t continue our daily lives, we can’t go out and be around people, it’s jarring. As a global community, we’ve never experienced something like this in our lifetimes. Whatever you’re doing for self-care is good as long as you’re not locking away your feelings in a closet for too long. Don’t be afraid to feel your feelings.
Self-Care
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
How to be Lonely – New York Times
The House of Belonging by David Whyte
i have already watched this a million times – Twitter
Brothers convince little sister of zombie apocalypse
Pamela Adlon Has the Recipe for Staying Sane During a Pandemic – W Magazine
Mental Health Tips from People Who’ve Been There – John Green
House-Sitting for Joan Didion – Vogue Magazine
I Spent a Year in Space, and I Have Tips on Isolation to Share – New York Times
Articles
Can Trump Legally Order the Country Back to Work From Coronavirus by Easter? – New York Times
Liberty University Is Staying Open During The Coronavirus Pandemic And Students Are Confused And Concerned – Buzzfeed News
Coronavirus Threatens an Already Strained Maternal Health System – New York Times
Stop Yelling Out the Window. Just Give Doctors the Masks You’re Hoarding. – New York Times
Doctors Are Writing Their Wills – New York Times
YouTube Informative Videos
3D-Printed Face Shields Are Protecting Hospital Workers From Coronavirus – Vice News
I’m a Doctor on the Frontlines of COVID-19. Ask Me Anything. – Jubilee
How the Coronavirus Pandemic Compares to the Spanish Flu – The New Yorker
What a World at Home Looks Like
We sit at home and wait to know that it's safe. We don't know when that will be. Weeks, months, it's all up in the air. I go for a drive to relieve stress. The snow reflects off the mountains. People are outside walking. That's all they can do these days. People in clusters. People in cars. Some trails are closed. Others are over-populated. The news is overwhelming and bleak, I peak then shut myself away. Choosing to think of happier things, Instead of drowning in the scariness of now.
Today is World Poetry Day. Poetry is so important, especially for this uncertain moment we’re currently living in. A few weeks ago, I posted a poem called Mantra for the Madness. It contains a lot of the fears and anxieties I had about what could happen. Flash forward two weeks and our society has completely changed.
Take some time today to read some poetry. Comment below what some of your favorite poems are.
Some of my favorite poems I’ve written.
Mantra for the Madness
Beach Day
Brain Reset
A Reminder to Be Respectful
Before I Had the Language
Saturday Drive
XXIV
Outside of the Box
Love Is’t Defined by Gender
Different is Beautiful
The Lies You Unlearn
The Beauty of Spring
Before I Say Hello
Hello Stranger
Divided Mind
Hard Truths
Important Note
Some of my favorite poems written by other people.
Atlas of the Difficult World by Adrienne Rich
Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich
The Stranger by Adrienne Rich
Lost by David Wagoner
The Guest House by Rumi
September 1, 1939 by W.H. Auden
The Love of October by W.S. Merwin
Two Poems by Dan Beachy-Quick
American Sonnet for the New Year by Terrance Hayes
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Laguna Blues by Charles Wright
I’ve been doing a lot of walking on the trails by my house lately. I began early last week when I decided to stop going to the gym. The trails weren’t too crowded then. I walked Monday thru Thursday then took a few days off because of the weather. This week, I have never seen so many people on the trails. Walking, jogging, running with dogs, families walking in packs, the occasional rollerblader trying to rough it out. It’s a busy time to be outside when you have nowhere else to go.
I realized that if I walk early in the day, I’m less likely to encounter so many people. When I pass people, I wave and give a little nod, trying my best to keep my distance from everyone I pass. It’s important to keep moving. My lungs feel good for the hour I’m outside, listening to a podcast or audiobook to try to keep my mind off of what’s happening as much as I can. Unplugging and disconnecting for a bit is good for both my mental and physical health.
Yesterday, as I was coming up to my usual turn around spot, I noticed something in the distance by the bench. I couldn’t make out what it was so I decided to walk closer. I figured it was dog poop since I had been seeing a lot of that lately. People don’t know how to pick up after their dogs. But, as I got closer, I noticed it was a pinecone. There wasn’t just one pinecone, there were ten of them in a row. I smiled. It was a little light amongst the darkness that shined bright. A reminder to smile at the unexpected moments that bring me joy.
That being said, it’s also super important to be informed and stay aware of what’s happening. It’s scary and can be overwhelming at times. I have found that for me, I have less anxiety when I limit how much information I take in at one time. So, I will look at the news, look at social media, read some articles, then I disconnect from it. I do this several times a day so I stayed updated on what’s happening while also not obsessing about it too much. I will provide some links below to some articles I’ve been reading and some videos I’ve been watching.
Another thing that’s helped my anxiety a lot during this time besides going on walks is Calm. I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve been meditating several times a day for the last week or so and that’s really calmed a lot of the physical anxiety I have felt. One thing I use in meditation or when I want to quiet my mind for a while is an Herbal Animal Eye Pillow. Someone recommended them to me because I have thyroid eye disease but anyone can use them. They look like stuffed animals but they’re filled with a lot of natural herbs that are really calming and soothing. They’re like a weighted blanket for your eyes. I have peter panda, which has lavender, orange, and Echinacea in it. I’ve used it every single day since it arrived in the mail. It’s been a saving grace for my eyes and my anxiety. At the moment, many of them are sold out. But there are some still available that I’ll link down below. Like I said, anyone can use them and I love mine so much.
Stay safe. Stay calm. Watch some animal videos. Read some books or short stories. Stay updated. Drink water. Take care of yourself. Breathe.
Herbal Animals
alexander graham bull with lavender, and lemon balm.
buddy bullfrog with lavender, orange, and linden flower.
camelia earhart with lavender, chamomile, and rose.
harry elephante with lavender, spearmint, and peppermint.
hoggy carmichael with chamomile, lavender, and orange.
isadora dolphin with chamomile, lavender, and lemon balm.
lena horne unicorn with lavender, lemon balm, and rose.
sydney greensheep with lavender and peppermint.
sylvester stallion with passion flower, orange, and peppermint.
News
10,000 Cases now in the US, BuzzFeed News – Twitter
Severe Outcomes Among Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) — United States, February 12–March 16, 2020 – CDC
Younger Adults Make Up Big Portion of Coronavirus Hospitalizations in U.S. – The New York Times
Do Not Travel Globally – U.S. Department of State
Articles & Stories
The Coronavirus Is Here to Stay, So What Happens Next? – New York Times
My Coronavirus Test: 5 Days, a Dozen Calls, Hours of Confusion – New York Times
‘I was pretty sure I was going to die’: coronavirus patient urges others to take it seriously – Fox 31 Denver
The Unending Anxiety of Coronavirus Content – New York Times
That ‘Miracle Cure’ You Saw on Facebook? It Won’t Stop the Coronavirus – The New York Times
No Age Group Is Immune to Coronavirus – The Cut
YouTube Videos
People Tell Us How Their Governments Around the World Are Responding to Coronavirus – Vice News
Air Travel During the Global Coronavirus Pandemic – The New Yorker
What can WE do? – iJustine
Self-Care
The first minute and twenty seconds of this video. – YouTube
10 Ways to Ease Your Coronavirus Anxiety – New York Times
Bright Minded with Miley Cyrus – Instagram
Pablo Neruda Poems – Poetry Foundation
Ashley C. Ford Radio, video one – YouTube
Dressing Up Is Making Me Feel Better – The Cut
5 riveting memoirs to read right now – i-D
Celeste Ng, Ann Patchett, Min Jin Lee and Others on the Books That Bring Them Comfort – The New York Times
Ten Free Ebooks from Haymarket Books
Lazy River by Zadie Smith – The New Yorker (Free Story)
My very responsible 65+ parents are social distancing and threw themselves their own St. Patrick’s Day parade – Twitter
China sent medical masks to Italy, & wrote on the boxes a quote of a Roman poem – Twitter
I’m not crying, you are. – Instagram
Look at All These Baby Goats – The Cut
Penguins in the Amazon?! – Twitter
the Shedd Aquarium is closed to humans, so they decided to just let the penguins walk around because sure why not – Twitter
“Oregon Zoo took the baby elephant around the zoo to visit the other animals.” – Twitter
Bodega Cats – Twitter
Because we are living in uncertain times, I thought maybe it would be a good idea to blog. I don’t know if it will be every day, every other day, or every few days. But, I want to share information and stories with you I think are important, along with some positivity. The blog post I shared yesterday was very well received, which makes me happy.
Over the last week, this change has really begun to settle in. With closures of restaurants and schools, entire countries and cities shutting down, I’ve gone back and forth from feeling alright to feeling panicky. This isn’t something to be taken lightly. That being said, a lot of people doing what it recommended by health officials and staying home. This gives me hope.
For those of you who is choosing to continue to live your normal lives, please reconsider your choice and look at some of the links I provided on my last post. Also, check out this Instagram post by Nikki Reed that provides some powerful thoughts on why social distancing matters right now. She sums it up perfectly, in my opinion. It’s important we all work together by staying away from each other as much as we can.
San Francisco is sheltering in place. New York City’s Mayor is urging New Yorkers’ to prepare to shelter in place. Things are getting serious as the number of confirmed cases continues to rise. Mental health and self-care are always so important but they’re especially important right now. You can read a Therapist’s Guide to Emotional Health in a Pandemic or go down a rabbit hole on Bon Appétit’s Gourmet Makes (FYI – the Reese’s episode is my favorite.).
I’ll end with this important video from the Atlantic. It’s an urgent message from Italians telling Americans and citizens in other countries what they wish they had known ten days ago. If you click on anything from this post, please click on this. And share it with everyone you know and love.
Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Stay home. Go for a walk outside if the weather’s nice. Keep your distance from people. Call your doctor if you’re feeling sick. Drink water. Stay safe. Stay calm. Take care of yourself.
News
Cases surpass 5,000 in U.S. – NBC News
National Parks Are Finally Taking Coronavirus Seriously – Huffington Post
Articles & Stories
10 Days Later: What Italians Wish They Had Known – The Atlantic
The Diary of a Grand Princess Crew Member as the Coronavirus Spread on the Ship – The New Yorker
Podcast Episodes
It’s like a War – The Daily
Why People Distrust Experts And What We Can Do About It – NPR’s On Point
Self-Care
A Therapist’s Guide to Emotional Health in a Pandemic – The Atlantic
Gourmet Makes – YouTube
Lizzo’s IGTV “Because I Love You” – A meditation and mantra to promote healing during this global crisis.
Kelly Severseike 