STAYING POSITIVE DURING A PANDEMIC
COVID Journal #1UNPRECEDENTED
UNCERTAINTY
QUARANTINE
LOCKDOWN
SOCIAL DISTANCING
SELF ISOLATION
STRANGE TIMES
PANDEMIC
COVID-19
Our everyday lives are now infiltrated with these terms. Our reality overtaken by these rather grim circumstances. My mind the last couple of weeks has turned in to a never-ending barrage of COVID-related thoughts. I wake up in the middle of the night, every night, and for a split second think it was a terrible nightmare. Then the dread and the fear and the sadness washes over me. Yes, this is really happening. I go from optimistic to pessimistic to frightened to hopeful all in the span of a day. Everyday. As I become better acquainted with the way my mind is adapting to this crisis, I’m becoming more aware of the fact that fear breeds fear and hope breeds hope.
I’ve been watching a lot of You Tube videos lately of what people are personally experiencing through this crisis, travelers especially. Since we used to live on the road full-time, I’m very interested in how those that are houseless are navigating these uncharted waters. And every time I hear…
WE’LL GET THROUGH THIS
WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER
THIS TOO SHALL PASS
WE’RE STAYING POSITIVE
…I’m filled with hope. We all have the power to either raise one another up or drag one another down. We all have the power to ease the pain of others, to provide comfort and compassion to our friends, family and neighbors.
Never could I have imagined a time when being too close to a fellow human could be life-threatening, but that’s the reality we’re in. Yet, it’s more important than ever that we are there for one another to help each other through what may be the most difficult thing our heads and our hearts have ever had to navigate. Right now, we’re all searching for a way to cope, knowing that pain and loss is on the hunt and none of us are immune. I’m coping by staying connected. Connected to family and friends that are luckily just a phone call or text away. Connected to humanity through the vast amounts of content that can be found on the web. Connected to nature with daily walks. Connected to Mark and Mackenzie (our niece that lives with us) with on-going conversations about our hopes and fears. And as this situation evolves, I’m learning to limit those connections to only those that offer honesty and hope.
It is within our power to filter our input. To decide what we want to read and listen to and who we want to interact with. With our mental health being put to the test right alongside our physical health, taking control of our input is how we will ultimately control the dialogue in our minds. What the world needs now more than ever is
LOVE
COMPASSION
HONESTY
HUMILITY
SUPPORT
and most of all
HOPE
With that, I’d like to start journaling this experience here. Nothing fancy, just an honest account of our life during this time along with how we’re staying hopeful in a time that can be hard to do so. Let’s work together to make hope the new contagion.
I always love to see a THC update in my inbox! You hooked me in a couple years ago (maybe longer) with your camper posts.
I appreciate your words of encouragement; we’ll get thorough this difficult time. I heard a quote that said “isolation does not mean isolated”. Thanks for reaching out!
Great read, Thxs so much Michele, Linny
As always your words reach out and touch a good place within myself. These are hard times. I start chemo on the 9th at our nearby cancer center and am concerned going to where there are many people. However….. I do have faith and I do have camping on my mind and bucket list to fulfill! Lets all pray for each other and stay connected as you are doing. Thanks and be well and safe.. your messages always come at a good time.
Jim
The camper sits in the driveway. But, doing more bike riding, cooking and baking, house painting, oil painting, reading, watching PBS, hugging my old dog. Suggest review your phone contact list, and make some new calls. have loved your past posts on boondock camping.