Opening the Can

Well, here we are.  If you had asked me on New Year's Day where I thought we would be in April this is certainly not the place.  Locked up at home, stalked by an invisible enemy that could be hiding in our homes - or even in US - without our knowledge... Famous and infamous alike suffering from a sickness that has yet to find cure or prevention...it's like a Hollywood movie, except it's REAL.  Every day I wake up hoping it will have just been a bad, bad dream.

We are being told repeatedly what we can't do:

• Can't go and meet our family or friends
• Can't go to a bar or restaurant for a meal
• Can't go shopping (except for groceries)
• Can't go to the gym or the dojo
• Can't go to church --->  I REPEAT - DON'T GO TO CHURCH!
• Can't go to a movie
• Can't go to the office
• Can't go on a date
• Can't go on vacation
• Can't buy too much of anything

Language has meaning.  This constant barrage of negativity is stifling and constricting, often making a bad situation worse and nudging us toward depression.  We have all faced hardships before, some of them extreme.  If you haven't, now is your time to shine.  You will remember what happened during these days.  Everyone else will, too.  We will remember how we treated each other.

Instead of dwelling on what we can't do, instead it's time to focus on what we CAN do.  Here are some "cans" you can open:

• Daily meditation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cLfBgMuv6U
• Daily exercise at home - https://www.self.com/gallery/bodyweight-exercises-you-can-do-at-home 
• Online martial arts class or YouTube channels.  
• Reading books - you know you are behind in your list, right?
• Take an online course - Udemy, Coursera, Khan Academy...my current favorite here.
• Zoom/Skype/Teams your family and friends...virtual happy hour also OK, right?
• Better yet, re-learn how to write a goddamn letter or postcard... bonus points for calligraphy
• Work on your cookery/baking skills --- I Love Jamie!
• Challenge a new eating habit --- IF is very cool.
• Develop language skills --- you can never have enough
• Remind your friends and family how much you love them --- we are all so important to each other
• Write a journal or blog (I've been writing this blog since 2005!)
• Get some sunshine on the roof or balcony - at least open a window or two and feel the spring breeze
• Aromatherapy and incense can help reduce stress
• Hot bath - preferably with bath salts
• A glass of wine... why the Hell not? (in moderation, please)
• Laugh, smile, take a deep breath or two...
• Bake some cookies - give them to your favorite front line teams... better yet, donate!
• Practice LCE - Love, Compassion, Empathy

The list goes on and on.  Add to mine or write your own.
THERE IS SO MUCH WE CAN BE DOING TO STAY HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

It's easy to be happy and smiling when everything is going well.  If you can still be happy and smiling in times of hardship...well, that's when you know you are STRONG.

We will weather this storm, together.  When it's all over we will find a new normal that will be better than before.  We will emerge STRONGER.

See you soon!