Is It OK to Laugh?


That’s a good question. With people losing their jobs, trying to figure out how to home-school their kids and dealing with uncertainty every single day, is it really OK to laugh?

My answer couldn’t come fast enough – YES. Yes, we all need to laugh and as often as we possibly can. You’ve heard the old saying: “Laughter is the best medicine.†Well, with no vaccine in sight, laughter may be our ONLY medicine.

This pandemic has hit everyone. It doesn’t matter where you live or what language you speak, this virus is global and it does not discriminate. It has taken a lot from us. In my friend’s case, it has taken away her sense of smell. Please don’t let it take away your sense of humor. Find some way to laugh every single day. If that’s not possible, settle for a chuckle – or even a smile.

Here’s some ideas to bring laughter to your day:

  • Watch a humorous movie
  • Google funny stories
  • Or if none of that works, watch this video of laughing babies: Guaranteed to Make You Laugh.

I promise it will relieve your stress, even if just for a little while. So no matter what challenges you are facing, it is OK to laugh.

 

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What Boat Are You In?


Recently I had coffee with a friend. During our conversation, she suddenly said: “We may all be in the same storm but we’re not in the same boat.â€

Wow – that really struck a chord with me. Think about it. We are all definitely in the same storm named COVID. How we navigate our own boat or the actual experiences we are having are all different.

Personally, I don’t have children so I don’t have to navigate school and lessons and how to become a teacher overnight. Also, I’m not in the same boat as those trying to learn the ins and outs of working from home. Although it may sound sooooo inviting, you soon begin to understand that you need to set boundaries so you can stay motivated.

For me, my greatest challenge has been the isolation. You will find me in the boat with all the other extraverts, trying to figure out how to survive without other people. I even love interacting with strangers. I’ve been told that I can make friends while standing in line at the grocery store. Well, I don’t have that option anymore. Now things have changed so much that people are hesitant to speak to each other. For an extrovert who get their energy from other people, that is torturous.

So, you see, there are all different kinds of boats. The trick to survival is knowing what boat you are in, taking the good with the bad, reaching out a helping hand to those who are going a little more crazy than you are, and remembering that we are all in this together. It sounds trite but it is so true, so I’ll say it again:

We are all in this together.

 

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What Super Hero Power Would You Choose?


If you could have any super hero power in the world, what would it be?

  • Would you like to be invisible?
  • Fly above the clouds?
  • Possess super human strength?

Personally, I would love to have the power to know other people’s stories. Why they act a certain way – what in their background caused them to say or do something in the moment. I honestly believe that if we know someone’s story, it will strengthen the human connection we have with them. Make us understand and sympathize with their reaction.

There have certainly been times in my past when I wish I could have a “do over.†Change something I said or something I did – to have a second chance to make it right. Over the years, I’ve lost a couple of friendships because I didn’t have the patience or the skills to listen to their story. Today, I regret some of those loses, so I guess that’s why I’d like the super power of truly listening to – and hearing – other people’s story.

Now it’s your turn – what super hero power would you choose?

 

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New Phrases for Our Changing World


We now have a new vocabulary. Think about it. Just four months ago we never heard of elbow bumping, social distancing or self-isolating. Now, they are part of our everyday language.

And, as time goes on, we are developing new habits, whether we want to or not. Every single day, our lives are changing and the hardest part, at least for me, is not knowing when this will end. So, I entertain myself with admiring the creativity and adaptability of others. We now have:

  • Patio parties where people stay at a safe distance, yet socialize with family or friends.
  • A baseball field that has turned into a drive-in movie.
  • A bar with individual bumper tables.

You’ve heard it a million times: The only thing constant is change. Well, now is the time to prove that theory. Now if the time to accept change as best we can, embrace the creativity of others and acknowledge and appreciate the endurance we have discovered within ourselves.

I think this quote by Charles Darwin says it all: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.â€

There is always a bridge that will take you to the other side – you just need the courage to keep looking for it.

 

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Pandemic Partners


Seriously, how are you holding up? As time marches on and we find ourselves spending more and more time isolated with our family, are you feeling closer to them – or like you want to strangle them? If you are honest with yourself, it’s probably a little bit of both.

We all know that connecting during this time of crisis is so important, yet it can be so challenging. Although I am enjoying some quality time with my husband, and Zooming with friends I haven’t seen in years, I find myself extremely lonely. I want to – no, NEED to – hug again. I want to feel comfortable moving through a crowd of people without reaching for my face mask or worrying about standing six feet apart.

So, I patiently wait for tomorrow, believing it will offer a new start. Hoping that the challenges we face today are part of the preparation we need for what lies ahead. I truly believe that the emotional exercises we are learning now are getting us ready for a stronger tomorrow. I know that I have learned to put many things in perspective and there is so much I will never take for granted again. Knowing that I picked the perfect Pandemic Partner is one of them.

 

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No Matter How Much Things Change, They Still Remain the Same


It was terrifying. My palms were sweating and my heart was racing. I kept telling myself: Feel the fear and do it anyway.

What was causing all this distress? I was going to the dentist. Was it for a special procedure? Nope, not at all. Just a routine cleaning; a procedure I have gotten hundreds – no, thousands – of times before. So, what made this one so stressful? It was the first time in three months that I ventured outside my home. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been self-isolating and this is the first time I’ve tried to return to some sort of normalcy in the past 90 days.

In one way it felt good to believe that this whole experience was behind us; in another way I was fearful that we have not seen the last of it yet.

As I entered the dentist’s office, there were some obvious changes. Hand sanitizer at the door, required face masks for everyone who was in the room, plastic panels separating me from the people who sat behind the desk. After my temperature was taken, my dental hygienist entered looking like someone straight out of a Twilight Zone episode – hair wrapped in a turban, face mask and head gear with a shield just like a welder would wear.

Once I got used to this new look, and we started talking, everything seemed normal again. There were stories told and lots of laughter. The surroundings may have changed, but the people did not. As I left, the women at the front desk waved and I wished them a good day. It made me realize that even though so much has changed in the last 90 days, some things will always stay the same. I got great comfort in realizing that my world of friendliness and compassion and hope was still there. My world was still filled with great beauty.

 

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Escape Boredom


Is boredom setting in? Or has it already tightened its grip on you and just won’t let go. In the beginning, about eight weeks ago, many of us welcomed some down time so we could finish that book or try that new recipe. But now? Its feeling like Groundhog Day where every morning is the same. I know this sounds crazy, but some mornings I actually miss those traffic jams. Anything to bring a little variety to my day!

So, how are you keeping your sanity? How are you maintaining some sort of normalcy? And please don’t tell me about another game night or family gathering on Zoom! My butt can’t take any more.

Here’s one idea. Carve out some time – I mean actually put the date and time on your calendar – and do something, an activity, that you really enjoy. Not one that Aunt Suzi said you should try or one your Mom said is perfect for you. But an activity that really makes you happy. Make sure it has a clear beginning, middle and an end. That way it will give you a sense of accomplishment. Remember, these are not “have to do†activities, but something you really LIKE to do.

Personally, I don’t cook, I hate to clean my house and gardening is marginal. But the one thing I do love is talking on the phone. So, every day I pick one person, family or friend, who I carve out time to talk to and find out how life is treating them. I pour a cup of coffee or glass of wine, and just enjoy some girlfriend time. It gives me something to look forward to, catch up with people I haven’t heard from for months, and just feel good about the relationships I’ve nurtured over the years.

So, what will it be for you? What will you choose to do that makes you happy? Now, go schedule some time and just enjoy.

 

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Is That a Light at the End of the Tunnel?


Today, in our world of uncertainty, we often feel like we have lost control. Like our life is spiraling – and it is. The trick is to stop, take a look, and notice HOW it is spiraling. It is downward or upward? More importantly, who is in control?

I have to be honest – some days I’m not sure. I personally crave some sort of permanence at a time when nothing looks familiar. When can I go back to work; eat at a restaurant; go to a movie? When can I do something as simple as hugging my brother or walking next to my friend without shouting over six feet of distance?

The key is to notice and believe that all things, good and bad, come to an end. And I promise you, this, too, will also come to an end. Soon, VERY soon, we will see that light at the end of the tunnel and know that WE are the ones in control. We choose our own destiny and decide how we will spend our day. Sometimes we may feel a little stuck, and that’s ok, because tomorrow will give us another chance to begin again; to make sure that our life is spiraling upwards.

We have faced change so many times. Think about it. Haven’t you moved into a new house, calling it your forever home, until you move again? Maybe you’ve faced divorce swearing you will never love again – until you do. And each time, with each change, you have seen and trusted that light at the end of the tunnel.

So right now, take a look and squint. I swear I see a flicker.

 

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Pretty in Pink


When this crisis is finally behind us, what will you do first? Who will you be most happy to see? Of course, my obvious answer is my family. I really miss feeling their hugs and hearing their laughter. But if I’m really honest with myself, a close second to family is my hair stylist. Yep, that’s right. The woman that I trust with my hair every single month to cover my gray and make me look good.

Right now, I’m going into my second month of no touch-ups, so my gray roots are out of control. In addition to my roots, my career is also spinning in a direction I had not planned. As of today, all the speeches I had scheduled for this year have been cancelled so I really don’t know when I will be on stage again. It could be months before I am in front of a live audience.

So, that is why I’ve decided this is a good time to let my hair grow out to its natural color – white. And to add a little fun, I contacted my hair stylist today and asked about adding an under layer of pink.

“Is that still a thing?†I asked

“If it’s subtle,†she replied. “And this is the perfect time to try something fun.â€

I have to admit it’s a bit scary but what the heck. If I don’t do it now I probably never will. My greatest fear is that my white hair will make me look ten years older, but my stylist assured me that we can always change it again if I don’t like it. So, we scheduled an appointment for the end of May, fingers crossed that she will be back in business by then. Hopefully, my hair won’t be as pink as the photo I posted here, but you never know.

What about you? Has your time in self-isolation given you a different outlook? Are you ready to try something you’ve never done before? I’m curious – what will you change, either inside or out.

 

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Finding Balance


Have you ever been consumed by your thoughts? Maybe life unexpectedly threw you a curve ball and you suddenly found yourself in a situation that you just didn’t want to deal with. It could be a lost job, a health scare, or a relationship that ended.

Before you know it, you are questioning everything about your life and you feel like you’ve lost control. How do you get it back? How do you take control once again? There are times when you may feel like quitting everything – your job, your relationship, even your belief in yourself.

So, what’s the next logical thing to do? Come on, let’s be honest. For many of us, we try to fill that void; we try to mask that loss. We do whatever we can to dull the pain. Think about it: If you lose your job, you might try to fill that void by spending more time with your spouse. If your relationship goes south, you try to replace it with more work or exercise. And what if a good friendship just fizzles out – well, you can always spend more time with your significant other.

We’ve all tried to fill these voids in one way or another, but the bottom line is that it never works. Balance is the key word here. I know you’re heard it a million times, and there’s a good reason for that – it works! If we could just find the right amount of time and energy to allocate to all aspects of life, we can learn to quiet and control those voices in our head. Just know that it’s ok to feel lonely; it’s ok to face disappointment and loss. Balance in your life will help even out the those ups and downs. It helps restore the calm.

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