*The following will appear in the Writer’s Grapevine*

Hello:

I thought I’d best pop in and see how everyone is fairing during lockdown.

I understand that some cities, states, and even countries are going on total lockdown. To those experiencing such a thing, what does that mean? What does that look like for you? How is everyone coping during the changes taking place?

Despite the constant upheaval to our daily lives, what positives are you able to take from this?

For me, the rough spots are a lot less than for others. Although I am suffering problems such as…

Not having someone to help with reading snail mail handling time sensitive paperwork, and not being able to go to the library or women’s center for socialization and internet use, overall for me not a whole lot has changed.

Oh sure, it’s inconvenient as heck that when I go out to the store some things are gone from the shelves, I have to wait longer than usual to get assistance in the store, and when I ride the bus home seating has changed due to the distancing between persons to keep the busses compliant with regulations, but those things are annoyances, and they aren’t going to matter in 10 years, especially if they keep me alive. So, though I may grumble about them, I’m not going to get all bent out of shape.

Now, should I go to the store and find the shelves are completely void of coffee, we might experience a total nuclear meltdown, but seriously, everyone has a breaking point don’t they?

And that leads my muse off in a new direction…

“Hey! Muse! Get back here!”

Well… There she goes… Look! Out!

I’ve seen a lot of frustration and upset boiling over on social media. Though for the most part I’ve been able to keep myself in check concerning these things, and think before replying there have been a couple times when that has bordered on a pop off valve breaking loose and spilling out all over everyone, and I must admit back at the first of the month I did have a mini-meltdown but it wasn’t virus related.

I am however, trying to understand that there are some who have a lot less tolerance for major change in their lifestyle, and that some might not have the ability to look at a situation with the type of positivity as I do and so my goal over the last few days has been to try and share things which will take people away from the situation a little, change their train of thought to something else if only for a little while in the hopes that by doing so it will help them get a better perspective on things.

Someone on Facebook suggested that it is those who have deeply rooted inner resources who can withstand hardship better than others, and I believe this is so.

So, I suggest…

Draw on your strengths. Identify those and bring them to the forefront.

Find things to enjoy. I mean really take a moment and think about where you are, what abilities you have and how you can use that to make not only your day better but someone else’s too.

I don’t know about you, but I always feel so much better when I know I’ve done something good for someone else, even if I only made them laugh for a moment. After all, what’s better than a smile? Take this time to reflect on what is truly important and before going totally off the rails about something ask yourselves, “Will this matter in 10 years?”

Then, before giving a kneejerk answer, give that some real thought.

I’m having to put this into practice. I had to rewrite an email to someone I was working with yesterday 6 times before I was able to bring the tone of my words out of an aggressive place. I had to delete and redo a comment to someone’s reaction to something I posted, and I had to take a big, deep, breath before speaking to someone on the phone who was on my very last nerve with their ridiculous questions.

My point, I’m trying to practice what I preach and realize that I may not be able to control what is happening around me, but I can if I make an effort control how I act and react to it.

I’m not perfect, and sooner or later I may have another meltdown. We all do, but I hope if I do that it’s worthy of the fallout that will come from it.

And with that, my Muse is off again… Dang… she’s manic today…

Who decides what is worthy of a meltdown?

Since all of us have different breaking points that will be different for each person.

So, not only do we have to ask if it will matter in 10 years, we should also ask ourselves if what we’re about to say is worth possibly damaging a friendship, hurting the feelings of a dear family member, or causing a 3-day argument.

Let’s have a conversation. If you’re comfortable doing so, send your thoughts on the subject to me at: patty.volunteer1@gmail.com. I’ll post them in next month’s magazine, and you may request to remain anonymous if you wish.

Just try and remember, this too shall pass.

I know that’s the oldest cliché on planet, but it is true.

May harmony find you, and blessid be.