Sometimes Mondays

. . . are the most Monday kind of Mondays.  (Like when you oversleep and didn't get to most of yesterday's to-do list yesterday and now you're starting the day already feeling scrambled AND you have a zit on your face to boot.)

Time to . . . 

As usual, on Mondays I share a bit of this and a little of that and things I discovered over the weekend.

(And I always start things off with my quote-for-the-week.)

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"Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it's less good than the one you had before  You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you've lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that's good."
    --- Elizabeth Edwards

I've been thinking a lot about resilience lately.  Acknowledging what's happening in my life.  Accepting the changes that I see.  Grieving them.  And then . . . moving forward.  This quote seemed to be just what I needed right now.

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This week's advice from CoronaLisa:  Something Worth Reading!  You may have already seen this very useful explanation about COVID transmission and the risks of exposure - and how people can best avoid those risks.  If you haven't read it, though, please take the time (an estimated 12-minute read) to educate - and protect - yourself.  Especially now . . . as so many states are "opening up" again.  The blog post (which is going viral itself) is written by Erin Bromage, a biologist and professor of infectious diseases at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.  It's a clear synthesis of other studies and explains in plain, understandable language (with diagrams) how COVID is spread, and how you can minimize your own risk.

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And while we're talking about COVID (because aren't we always talking about COVID these days?), here's another article that might interest you.  It's about COVID-19 "Infowhelm" and explains why our brains are having trouble taking in and processing all the information that's being thrown at us.  Important and interesting.  (But if you're only going to read one of these articles today, read the first one, okay?)

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So many great live music performances have been canceled because of COVID-19.  Which is a true tragedy, and one of the things I'm having the most trouble accepting (see looking for resilience, above).  If there is a silver lining in any of this, it's that so many of those canceled live music performances are now happening virtually.  And that means more people can enjoy them -- even if they can't be there in person.

The New York Guitar Festival is one of the live performance "casualties" of COVID-19.  But . . . the festival has changed gears (resilience!) and is offering many of their favorite performers via their YouTube channel.  You can read more about their revised schedule here or find the New York Guitar Festival YouTube channel here.  

And here's my favorite so far (and it's a real treat) . . . 

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Need a lift today?  Feeling like spring is being just too much of a tease this year?  Well, here's something that will cheer you right up:  The cherry trees at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden are in full bloom right now. But the garden is - of course - closed to the public.  Never fear -- you can take a long walk along their Cherry Esplanade today . . . from the comfort of your own computer.  Take a walk -- and enjoy at full screen for an almost-like-you're-there view.  (I only wish they could include a smell-the-blossoms feature.)

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I've saved the best for last!  Whenever you're feeling low, or you need a quick diversion, just sit back and enjoy this . . .

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That's it for me this Monday morning.
I hope your week is off to a good start -- and that it isn't snowing in your corner of the world today.

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PS - Don't forget to join Bonny, Carole, and I tomorrow for the blog book discussion (part 1) for this quarter's Read With Us selection I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.  We're mixing things up this time around, and you'll find a different question on each of our blogs tomorrow.  We can't wait to hear what you thought of the book.

Comments

[Kat]

Thank you! That article is EXCELLENT! (But the music is simply the best!)

Happy Monday (no snow today, but it is so rainy and cold!)

[Debbie]

That article is excellent, but still, I grieve for not being able to sing in my choir and choral group for the foreseeable future. I feel lost without seeing friends at rehearsals, there is something so satisfying about making music together. I still try to play the piano and sing everyday, but it's just me and my piano and I always end up feeling sad. This is going to be my most difficult adjustment.

[Bonny]

I had forgotten about Elizabeth Edwards, but that quote surely captures the meaning of resilience. I've fought, screamed, and cried, and am now working on acceptance. Thanks for the Dr. Bromage article. I had read it, but didn't know where it came from, so now I've gone back and read some of his other articles. I appreciate the facts, science, and clarity. Thanks!

[Shirley]

Thank you for the reference to Erin Bromage’s article. I found his website to be full of helpful information.

[Carole]

I read that article last week and I think it helps a lot. And also GO UMASS! I love Roseanne Cash so thanks for that link - and the cherry blossom one, too.

[Vicki]

I hope the "Monday-ness" of this Monday wears off a bit as the day progresses. Thanks for the great Monday post!! :)

[Carolyn Seymour Thomas]

More perfect timing, with that Eliz. Edwards quote this time...I just found out our awesome, incredible, super-spunky dental hygienist (and mother of one young child) was diagnosed with cancer last week. We're putting together a package for her & her dear girl today. She's appropriately at 'fight' and not 'accept' right now--but this is good energy to pack up & send.
And the Bird Opera, well...pure delight.

[Kim Sheehan]

Thanks for all the little treats today!

[Patty]

Looking forward to all. of. this. once I get out of work! And I thought book group was this week...I'll be doing some finishing of that book tonight! (Totally dragging my feet for some reason.)

[Vera]

Another great post Kym with so many good links. Thank you! And the Bird Opera is simply wonderful!

[Mary]

oh YIKES is it already time to discuss the book!! I haven't started it ... (I have however done a lot of other reading and I thought Bromage's article was excellent - forwarded to my family today)

[margene]

Elizabeth Edwards quote is so perfect. I feel like I have a bird opera outside my door every morning. I love this time of year and the dawn chorus! Sadly, it will soon be over. Spring has been a lovely diversion. I, too, miss the concerts we had planned. One in August will surely not go forward. The Bromage article needs to be read by everyone. I also forwarded it to my family. Take care, Kym.

[Sarah]

That quote is tailor made for these times, I think, and I hope I'm doing resilience right around here. Now I am off to read that article!