Another day at home. I have been working on making more face masks. My daughter is an LPN in a nursing home and they need more masks. When I get a bunch more made I will fix a box and mail them to her for her to take to work with her. I need her to stay safe!
Jim has been outside drilling to break up some concrete. Not sure I understand what he is going to do once he gets the concrete out of the way – something about a drain. He hops from one project to the next and I can’t keep them all straight.
I wrote two letters today and received one. I love getting letters the old fashion way in the mail. Makes my day when I get one. Thanks Robin (again)!
I reached out to one of my disc golf players that was to come stay with me the end of April. He has run into a health challenge and I needed to check in with him to see how he is doing. Gratefully he is recovering although still having challenges. I wish him good health – his beautiful family needs him to get better.
I was talking to someone else today and we both shared that we are experiencing a bit of anxiety about thinking of rejoining the “normal” world. I was glad to hear I wasn’t the only one having those thoughts. Not sure the “normal” world still exists as I knew it and I’m sure part of my anxiety is thinking about what the “new” world will look and feel like.
I am glad to hear about the governors that are joining with governors of adjoining borders to form a collaborative effort on reopening their states. That makes a whole lot of sense to me. We are all in this together and together we can turn this around. Individually we will fail.
I tuned in to listen to the governor of KS give her daily update. I read the comments people were posting while she was talking. Oh my god! Some have no clue how difficult and unprecedented these times are and expect the government to work the way it did before all this started. It was never designed to work at the levels they are being called to do now. Wow! Patience goes a long ways people!
There was an element of fear in the messages that was palatable. I understand how terrified people are now. They were looking for someone to blame and the governor seemed to be catching their anger. I guess I get it to some degree.
I also find it interesting that the people that have been the loudest voices about how we need to shrink the government and that the government can’t solve our problems are the ones that are screaming the loudest right now that the government isn’t working for them. Shrinking the government during normal times has consequences during times of crisis.
I trust that when this is over we will find a better way for our government to work for all of us. The cracks in it are showing their light right now.
These are certainly interesting times we are living through. I listened to a podcast today from a guy that said what most people are feeling is grief as they watch the country they love become something they don’t know. He said we can’t go back to the way it was and something new is going to be created. He worries that people will get stuck in the denial and blame stages of grief and not come through to the acceptance and rebuilding phase that we will be in as we come out of this time. The problem is no one really knows when we will be through this and what the new outcome will look like. We are habitual creatures that like routine and predictability and no one can predict what the new “normal” will look and feel like. Uncertainly is where we are at and it is icky and uncomfortable for many if not most of the population right now. Many are turning to unhealthy ways to get them through this. Denial and blame happen to be handy and feel “normal” so many go there. Substance abuse and physical abuse is another way some are coping. Sitting with the unknown and allowing it to be what it is is hard but that is what he recommends we do. Dom’t run and don’t hide! Allow yourself to be uncomfortable and not know what to do. Feel what ever you need to feel and be OK with that. Offering grace and mercy to each other can help. Reaching out to others and being real with them can help. Don’t be afraid to admit you are overwhelmed and need help can help. Together we can help each other through this.
Grateful I have found a home for the face masks I am making, grateful for the governors that are leading the nation through these times, and grateful I found that podcast today as it reassured me that my overwhelm is normal and even needed in the world right now.