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It has been interesting to me in conversations with my husband, Ken, to reflect on how his 50 San Clemente High School female wrestlers are handling coming to in-person
classes knowing that there is only a small chance they will get to wrestle at all during this year of Covid-19. He says they keep showing up and that their spirits are pretty
good. He and his co-coach create alternate activities for them. On Veteran’s Day they had a voluntary “meet” with Dana Hills’ girl wrestlers on the beach in Doheny where they
participated in sort of a socially distant “fitness Olympics” with the other team. From the photos it looked like a great turn out and that the girls were engaged and enjoying
the competition.
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So Ken and his co-coach are being creative. Maybe that’s part of the solution to how we can stay sane during this insane time. There’s no argument that keeping safe during
this pandemic is a huge challenge. My daughter who teaches 7th grade English feels like she is talking to herself when she teaches her students on Zoom. Sometimes she
resorts to dancing to keep their attention. I know that my grandchildren are struggling to understand the materials in their classes while staying engaged. It’s hard not
seeing our loved ones or hugging them. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs. Depression is rampant. Food scarcity is real, but we still have hope. We know a vaccine
will be coming soon.
Living on the “corona-coaster” I hear some of my associates saying they miss people they don’t even like. Others report that “they are bored with being part of a major
historical event!!” For me, personally, I am at a place where running errands and walking the dogs are big highlights which count as “going out.” Of course all of us get
that it is up to us to figure out how to accomplish contentment when our old activities are shut down. We are now forced to become even more inventive in how we live our
lives.
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My sister Diana, after months of lockdown with all four of her family members working from home and going to school on-line, had a genius idea. It was very difficult to
execute, but she was successful. She finally found a cabin high in the San Bernardino Mountains which has good Wifi and needed work and a family to love it. They closed
escrow. Last week they enjoyed their first snow-fall while working on-line from 7200 feet elevation. They are bewitched by a new life.
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Others in my life have discovered the thrills of RVing, and are planning road trips around America. My friend Mary is taking two art and drawing classes on Zoom. She is full
of more energy and excitement than ever as she faces new art challenges. My daughter, Julina, has taken up Pickle Ball and is playing several evenings each week. For my part,
you know I wrote that memoir-history book, Growing Up Venice a few months ago. That led to me embracing my Los Angeles roots and joining the Los Angeles City Historical
Society. I kept pulling on that historical society thread which led to me becoming a part of their board of directors. It’s captivating to meet new people (on Zoom) and to
think about new ideas.
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Our challenge is how to adapt to this crazy period in the world. We know time is slipping by quickly, like warm sand through our fingers. We cannot afford to waste any of
it; it’s too precious and too fleeting. You may recall that brain science has discovered that we humans have some 50,000 thoughts per day, and that about 80% of them are
negative. They kept us safe during the cave-man days, but negativity can tear us down in today’s pandemic. It can freeze us into inaction. We need to be actors in our own
lives to live to the fullest. Here’s a remedy to overcoming negative thinking’s detrimental effects:
1. PRACTICE MINDFULNESS – ACKNOWLEDGE JUDGMENTAL,. CRITICAL, IRRATIONAL, AND FEAR BASED THOUGHTS AND THEN POKE
HOLES IN THEM AS YOU WOULD A BUBBLE AND WATCH THEM DISAPPEAR.
2. EXERCISE DAILY – OUR BODIES DESPERATELY NEED THE GOOD ENDORPHINS WHICH ARE GENERATED THROUGH MOVEMENT. MY
SEPTAGENERIAN MOUNT EVEREST CLIMBING FRIEND ALWAYS SAYS, “MOTION IS LOTION.”
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3. FIND SOMETHING NEW TO FOCUS YOUR THOUGHTS UPON. JOIN A NEW GROUP, TAKE UP A NEW HOBBY, DISCOVER SOME DIFFERENT
RECIPES, PLANT A WINTER GARDEN, START A VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB, TAKE UP YOGA OR MEDITATION, ADOPT A PUPPY.
This is our time now and it’s more important than ever that we make the best use of it. You know I always enjoy hearing from you. Happy Thanksgiving, My best, donna
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