CORONAVIRUS SURVIVAL

 

Well this is happening. Today is Monday, the first day of Spring Break and instead of the normal joy, elation and freedom it’s a morning of preparation, fear and uncertainty.

 

We are not good with uncertainty, we want to know what tomorrow will bring but with this virus we simply don’t know.  Uncertainty brings out some of our worst traits but it can also be a time of growth and learning.

 

Start with a Mr. Rogers minute. Fred once spent a minute of his show doing nothing for 60 seconds and when you do it you realize first how long a minute is and second how important mindfulness can be. You are still alive and healthy, the birds are still singing, the sun is still shining, keep calm and carry on.

 

Second, take stock in where you are. For me, schools are closed until April 5, the tennis season has been cancelled until April 15, SIFF 2020 is postponed (anyone need 20 giant wooden letters?), my Ping-Pong fundraiser is off, ski areas are closed (big bummer with this weeks storms finally dumping feet of fresh pow-pow), wine tours are obviously not happening and our Air B and B has had cancellations for the entire next month.

 

Now serenity-prayer all that away because there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. I even like to spin the bad into good as in, “Goody, I won’t have to clean toilets for a month” (I am the official Studio 455 bathroom cleaner).

 

Next, make plans. Kids home from school? Do stuff-paint and draw and write and read and go for long walks and start a food for the needy program. And yes you can watch movies and discover Quibi but limit screen time each day (your own as well as your kids) and maybe throw in a couple of documentaries and TED talks.

 

And if you are lucky enough to own a 1910 Craftsman home in the Springs then you have plenty to do. Today I’m finishing the new closet in cedar cladding because Kate is at her newspaper job and I kinda like how the closet looks and smells covered in cedar.

 

Plus completing activities gives us confidence. Imaging if you spent tomorrow planning, building and planting a new garden. It would feel great at the end of the day and you would have something to say when people asked you what you did with your time off.

 

But mostly people, take care of yourself, call friends and loved ones, check up on people, socialize in different ways and if you have a sore throat or fever or chest pain or a cough, stay away until you feel better.

 

And please stop bashing others, we are all in this together you, me, Trump, Joe, Bernie, Pelosi, China, Italy, America- viruses are equal opportunity infectors and crisis requires unity.  The RT-PCR tests will be here soon and even if you get the virus you have a 97.7% chance of recovering (even better if you are young and healthy).

 

We will recover, the stock marked will recover, schools will recover, the wine industry will recover, and California will recover. But the ride will be a little bumpy so make some plans.

 

Now, walk outside and take your Mr. Rogers minute then get to work because that closet isn’t going to panel itself.

 

 

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