Another Monday
03/30/2020
. . . but this one has a bit of extra-cream. (Because it's my birthday!) Time to . . .
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"Worry is like a rocking chair: It gives you something to do, but never gets you anywhere."
--- Erma Bombeck
I don't know about you, but I spend way too much time these days . . . rocking.
I really need to GET OUT of the rocking chair.
Over the weekend, I discovered this great list of 20 Questions to Help with COVID-19 Anxiety put together by author Kathleen Smith. (Her book is called Everything Isn't Terrible.) (I haven't read it.) (Maybe I should.)
Anyway, take a look at the list of questions. Maybe they'll help you, too.
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Speaking of masks . . .
This piece from the Washington Post provides a very interesting perspective on the wearing of masks in public . . . by everyone . . . in the time of coronavirus. It makes a lot of sense. Now I'm going to sit at my sewing machine later today and sew more masks! (Maybe I'll even figure out a way to distribute them to my neighbors. Because I'm willing to try just about anything to stop the spread of this thing.)
And another thing -- Alabama Chanin has turned to manufacturing healthcare masks (and no -- they are neither stenciled nor embellished). You can support their efforts with a donation -- or you can order a batch for your family or community.
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If you're looking for something to listen to . . . that won't make you feel more anxious than you already do . . . have I got a podcast for you! Check out Brené Brown's new podcast Unlocking Us. It is smart, interesting, and oh-so-soothing for your soul. Highly, highly recommended.
(If you listen, let me know what you think!)
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In the Did You Know department . . . Last week, the National Emergency Library opened! This digital collection of 1.4 MILLION books (!) "supports emergency remote teaching, research activities, independent scholarship, and intellectual stimulation while universities, schools, training centers, and libraries are closed."
You can click on the link above to go directly to the library, or you can read about the library itself in this article from The New Yorker.
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And . . . that's it for me on this Monday!
Here's a parting thought for you. . .
Things look bleak . . . partly because they ARE bleak. But also because we're looking at numbers without real context -- and most of us do not know how to interpret this kind of data. Try not to get fixated on the numbers. (This is what I tell myself when I wake up in the middle of the night. Do.Not.Fixate.On.The.Numbers.)
Stay well.
Wash your hands.
Flatten the curve.
It's your birthday, and you've given me gifts in the form of some interesting resources to deal with anxiety (I so need these!), and some reassurance not to fixate on the numbers (because I am). Happy, Happy Birthday, Kym! I wish you a calm day, and much health, happiness, and better times in the year ahead.
Posted by: Bonny | 03/30/2020 at 09:15 AM
God bless Erma Bombeck. Despite my previous comment, I hope your masks work. For some reason I find the combo of baking, Netflix and knitting to be very soothing. Doesn’t solve All my issues, but it helps.:)
Posted by: Chloe | 03/30/2020 at 09:17 AM
Happy Birthday Kym!! (although I think we all need celebration passes to be used once all this is over!)
Thank you for the links... I will check out the podcast - thank you. Stress here is off the charts (my kids are really struggling...and I can't fix any of it, darn it)
Posted by: Kat | 03/30/2020 at 09:22 AM
Oh whoops, I skipped over that birthday part, A great time to count one’s blessings. Happy Birthday, Kym! And thank you for adding to my list of things to look forward to each day at this stultifying, stay-at-home time.
Posted by: Chloe | 03/30/2020 at 09:22 AM
Happy birthday to you! As I've been telling everyone who's had a birthday during this madness, you get a free do-over on your birthday once this period is over so that you can celebrate properly!
I do not sew and cannot make my own masks, but our next-door neighbor is a quilter and has started making some with fabric scraps. She said she was going to see if she could donate them, but I think I might send her the WP article and perhaps she'll make them for our neighbors.
Posted by: Sarah | 03/30/2020 at 09:37 AM
Happy Birthday, my dear friend! I hope you'll celebrate in style even if you are at home. I've fallen behind on podcasts because I always listened to them on my commute but I started the Brené Brown one when it was brand new and I'm enjoying it!
Posted by: Carole | 03/30/2020 at 09:53 AM
Happy Birthday Kym! Thanks for the anxiety articles. Really appreciate them. Hope you have a wonderful day! 🎂
Posted by: Linda W. | 03/30/2020 at 10:06 AM
Happy, happy birthday Kym. Wishing you a day, week, month, year of calmness, peace, excellent health, plenty of joy and much love. Hoping you can celebrate somehow.
Thanks for the links - I'll be checking them out a little later today.
Posted by: Vera | 03/30/2020 at 10:27 AM
Happy, happy birthday to you! A unique one, for sure...and I'll bet it will be top notch, regardless. So MANY valuable resources here to share, Kym--thank you! I was touched last night when we got a message from my teen's best friend...her mom is a pharmacist, and 15-yr-old Zoe stitched masks for the whole staff over the weekend. She's getting more material to keep her project going.
Posted by: Carolyn Seymour Thomas | 03/30/2020 at 10:58 AM
Happy Birthday my friend! Spend your day with memories of last year! Thank-you for the links...I shall explore them with a cocktail...in celebration of you...'round 6:00. xoxo
Posted by: Patty | 03/30/2020 at 11:16 AM
Happy Birthday! I know that yours, like mine, does not necessarily look the way it usually does, but at least we are here to celebrate!
Posted by: Bridget | 03/30/2020 at 11:50 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KYM!!!
Posted by: Vicki | 03/30/2020 at 11:54 AM
I don't comment often, but I read every post. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Posted by: britt | 03/30/2020 at 12:03 PM
Happy Birthday to You, Kym! We are all in the thick of this situation right now, makes it hard to keep things in perspective, doesn’t it? Yet birthdays still arrive, with a raincheck attached. My son’s day was about a week ago. First time I haven’t seen him and hugged him on his birthday, but at least he’s safe and I’ll be able to celebrate with him soon enough. Take care and enjoy a glass of wine tonight!! We are so lucky, after all.
Posted by: Kim | 03/30/2020 at 01:23 PM
Thank you for these practical suggestions, Kym. I always find something timely and interesting on your blog.
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Jeanne | 03/30/2020 at 01:23 PM
Happy Birthday Kym! Hope you find a way to make this day special. My anxiety comes and goes. Who would have thought that a Zoom meeting with my daughters and their families would lead to a very early wake up time this morning. Usually I can go back to sleep but not today. Miss my granddaughters, I’m going to do a daily FaceTime with a friend. Today it was with my dear friend confined to a nursing home battling ALS. We had a wonderful chat about the grandkids, books and life.
Posted by: Geri | 03/30/2020 at 02:57 PM
Happy Birthday, Kym!!! I wish you all the best for the coming year and I hope today is a good one in spite of the circumstances.
Posted by: Debbie | 03/30/2020 at 03:37 PM
Happy Birthday Kym!!
Wishing you a fabulous day.
Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions,
It's deeply appreciated
Posted by: Tere | 03/30/2020 at 04:11 PM
Happy Birthday!! I am LOVING Brené's new podcast. Listened twice to the first one (FFTs!!) and to Friday's. Not sure yet that I want to read Glennon Doyle's book, but I am really intrigued. ALSO - the curve IS starting to flatten in the Bay Area. They started distancing about 1-2 weeks BEFORE the rest of us... it DOES work!
Posted by: Mary | 03/30/2020 at 04:52 PM
Happy happy happy day! My birthday is April 30 and it will be a very different birthday, as I am sure yours is. I'm glad you're happy and healthy. Our curve is flattening.
Posted by: Kim Sheehan | 03/30/2020 at 05:41 PM
Happy Birthday and YES you have given me the emergency library gift and some tips for anxiety !!! Thank you.
Posted by: kathy b | 03/30/2020 at 06:27 PM
Sadly, I did not come here yesterday to drop by Birthday wishes! I hope you were able to find some lovely things to make your day beautiful! I focus on our neighborhood where everyone is well and we wave as we head out for our walks. We are all conscious of distance and we send text to see if anyone needs something if we're heading to the grocery store. I have friends in the downtown area who have/had the virus. They are much younger and while their symptoms were horrible, they are feeling much better and getting stronger daily. Thank you for the links and the library will be especially wonderful to explore! xox
Posted by: margene | 03/31/2020 at 11:04 AM
Happy birthday week! I am experimenting with different kinds of masks. So far I've sewn two styles of pleated masks. Next, I will try a shaped mask designed as a cover for an N95 mask.
Posted by: Claudia | 03/31/2020 at 11:14 AM
Oh my goodness - I missed your birthday in behind in the blogness. I hope your day was as happy as these circumstances allow - I feel pretty strongly that we really OUGHT to be as happy as we can manage.
Posted by: Pam | 04/03/2020 at 01:59 AM