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Life Lessons
This week I give you this video from TEDtalks.
For all of the misfits out there: those who are odd-shaped pegs expected to conform to a round hole. You may not have had the same experiences as Lydia, but we have certainly had the same feelings and emotions.
Once a year in April, I blog about Sjogren's Syndrome (it's SS awareness month). I fight the battle against Sjogren's every day of my life. Sjogren's Syndrome is a systemic disease that causes extreme dryness; basically my moisture glands don't work properly. The dryness starts with the top of the head and goes all the way to my toenails. It is an autoimmune disease, and those who have it are one of the groups that are in the high-risk zone for complications from COVID-19. Sjogren's patients need to do all of the same things that everybody else needs to do to keep themselves well; they just need to be more diligent.
I realize wearing a mask, gloves, and sneezing into your elbow can be annoying, but I personally want to thank all of you who are taking extra precautions not to spread the virus. It is essential that we not only consider ourselves during this pandemic but also consider the health and lives of those around us.
My daughter came over to the house the other day; we visited outside in the front yard. We both wore masks, and she stayed more than 6 ft away from me. "I want to make sure you are safe, Mom. As far as I know, I don't have it, but you never know." She said. I work very hard to keep myself healthy; I know what a respiratory illness can do to me.
I've heard many times, "You don't look like you have anything wrong with you. I would have never known." This just goes to show, you should never judge a book by its cover. The person you walk next to could be fighting a battle every day, too, and if you knew their story, you might understand what it means to them when you are a little extra cautious.
Stay safe, be well.
https://www.cdc.gov/
I don't know about you, but I've been overwhelmed! All of my gigs have been canceled because of The Virus (audible gasp from audience), just like every other storyteller I know. However, as I went online, I saw many of my colleagues being able to reinvent themselves quickly. They are making videos, posting stories, writing papers, gathering people into groups, and getting things online.
It felt like everyone was doing something to keep their business running except me. I felt like I couldn't breathe. It wasn't just because my income suddenly went down to zero, or that the world was being quarantined, it was that after seeing what everyone else was doing, I didn't know what I should do. Should I post lessons online, what would I post? Maybe I can reschedule my gigs for later, but how long will we be in quarantine? I was so confused. I even thought that perhaps I should quit storytelling altogether. It seemed as though I was the turtle standing in the middle of a 'herd' of hares (FYI a group of hares is called a "drove," but "herd" fits my mood better).
Then it hit me: I needed a cup of tea and a break from social media. After the second cup of tea and a cookie, I asked myself this question, "What have you been waiting to do until it was warm, and you had the time?" There it was. I needed to clean out and organize my puppet and construction sheds. They had been waiting for me all winter. So I spent two days moving boxes around and getting sheds a bit more in order. No, I am not finished with them yet, but they are looking much better.
COVID-19 will cause us all to do things differently. I have found myself on loads of ZOOM meetings, sometimes 4-5 a day. I continuously get posts on what colleagues are doing. I have a computer, tablet, and phone, all of which are connected to the internet. It still overwhelms me – I feel like I can't keep up. But it is in those overwhelming moments I go back to that cup of tea and remember I have a direction: the puppet and construction sheds.
What have you been putting off and waiting to do until you had the time? Writing a story, learning an instrument, going back and reading all of those notes you took when you attended a workshop? Take the time and do it. Read that novel, research that new story. Step back from what everyone else is doing and do what you need to do. I've realized that I might not win the race against all those hares, but I will most certainly finish it.
Give me a call, and we'll have a cup of tea online, which is an acceptable distance.
Pandemic. Movies have been made about this possibility and now we are living through one. I truly understand the need to stay at a distance from others to lessen the possibility of sharing the germs, but staying inside 24 hours a day is not a good plan for some of our brains (and I have one of those brains). I'm not going to cite any studies or trials on this; rather I'll share a little bit about what happens to me.
I am what I call "a part-time introvert". That part of me actually has no problem with staying inside and away from people. However, the more I stay inside, the more I want to stay inside. The more I stay away from people, the more I want to stay away from people. Then I feel my brain change – I can go from living life to simply existing, and that is where the anxiety waits for me. Therefore, I also need connection. Yes, Facebook and the computer keep us "connected" but for me, I need a real voice, a back-and-forth of conversation, an exchange of ideas and thoughts. I need adventure, no matter how simple. My brain needs to stay active and open. Four walls close me in and the more I stay in those walls the more I fold into myself.
Of course, there are a lot of things you can do inside: TV, reading, cleaning, sewing… the list goes on, but I need to walk out the door, out of my house and experience a tree, smell a flower, dig in the earth, and listen to the birds. I was able to spend a couple of days with my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter this week. The weather was nice so we all got out for a walk. We all needed that to clear our brains and connect with the earth.
Everyone stay well, keep your distance, and look for an adventure. Though separate, we are all in this together.
Here are some pictures I took on our walk:
On January 1, 2020, Steven and I took down our Christmas tree. The ornaments have all been packed away and placed in the attic quietly waiting for the year to pass again. The green needles from the evergreen have been swept up and the furniture has been put back into place. Taking down the tree has always been a bittersweet time for me, but I find symbolism in it. The Christmas tree was brought into the house in anticipation of Christmas Day. The house was filled with extra chairs, additional food, family, and we all had a joyous time together. After Christmas everyone left, and it was time to prepare for the New Year.
Taking down the tree on January 1st is like making space for the New Year to come in. Taking out the tree stand, putting all of the decorations away, taking out the extensions on the dinner table, packing up the Christmas dishes and linens — it all creates room for the New Year. The decorations I put out each December bring back memories that I cherish but putting them away again allows new experiences to be welcomed into our home.
As I look at my 2020 calendar I see that I have a lot in store for the year. I am excited, expectant, anxious and, if I’m honest, in some moments I am terrified (breathe, Lona, just breathe!). It is all going to be good! I have a feeling you might feel the same way as you consider your 2020 calendar.
May you have a wonderful, joyous, happy, and productive year with many a new story to tell and share.
And remember: breathe, just breathe.
Welcome to 2020!
