Wash your hands....a quarantine parody to make you smile today

                                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYIEp3mu3Rs

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

Desiderata:  things wanted or needed.

"Everywhere life is full of heroism"

                                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaVaF6TkSUU


I first discovered this poem in college.  Although written in 1927, its lessons are true today.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs....

Maslow's Hierarchy of needs (deja vu from nursing school.)

Robert Frost:

“In all your years and all your travels,” I asked, “what do you think is the most important thing you’ve learned about life?”

He paused a moment, then with the twinkle sparkling under those brambly eyebrows he replied: “In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on. In all the confusions of today, with all our troubles . . . with politicians and people slinging the word fear around, all of us become discouraged . . . tempted to say this is the end, the finish. But life — it goes on. It always has. It always will. Don’t forget that.

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrBHd41YqTc

Initiative for the week, find my:

Joie de vivre = zest for life


     It is difficult to find motivation in these times.  One day is just like another.  What week is this? What month?  Little mail arrives.    So this week, I will seek my joie de vivre. It is hiding in there somewhere.

     Even though no one should ever eat animal products.....this made me laugh!

Please on Earth Day 2020

                                                            Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover

Namaske......The mask I wear to protect you honors the mask you wear to protect me.

“Finally I saw that worrying had come to nothing. And gave it up. And took my old body and went out into the morning, and sang.” —I Worried, Mary Oliver

   We need more Mary Oliver these days.

Beautiful.......Turn off the news and build a garden

                                           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPrPtDoaB3s

Negative people

Arooooo!.....there are no orphans in a wolf pack.

    

There are so many touching posts on the "Go Outside and Howl at 8 PM" Facebook page. People are grieving everywhere and howling for lost children, lost parents, friends and family lost to Covid. One person posted that there are no orphans in a wolf pack.

We can howl for the HS and college seniors who won't have an actual graduation ceremony this year, for all the essential workers doing their jobs, and for everyone now out of work. The support and solidarity has blown my mind. There is at least one good thing coming out of all of this....the reminder that we are all in this together, even if sheltering at home alone.  

“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”

― Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book

“Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Love of the World, by Charlotte Tall Mountain 5/4/2012 The Cullins, Isle of Skye Charlotte Tall Mountain, Love of the World For the love of a tree, she went out on a limb. For the love of the sea, she rocked the boat. For the love of the earth, she dug deeper. For the love of community, she mended fences. For the love of the stars, she let her light shine. For the love of spirit, she nurtured her soul. For the love of a good time, she sowed seeds of happiness. For the love of God, she drew down the moon. For the love of nature, she made compost. For the love of a good meal, she gave thanks. For the love of family, she reconciled differences. For the love of creativity, she entertained new possibilities. For the love of her enemies, she suspended judgment. For the love of herself, she acknowledged her own worth. And the world was richer for her. Charlotte Tall Mountain (July 1, 1941 to May 6, 2006) was an artist and poet of an Iroquois Native American heritage.

“Your life is made of two dates and a dash. Make the most of the dash.”
Linda Ellis

     Remembering my Mom, June Davidson, 6-23-1930 ---4-12-2020.  She made the most of her dash.

“In one of those stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night. And when your sorrow is comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be content that you have known me. You will always be my friend...I shall not leave you.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

       I just came in from my nightly 1 minute howl at 8PM.  It is primal, and always cheers me to hear the howls from all around.

Smile and have a great day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcGU8OUXCDE

Go outside and howl at 8pm! It's a thing. I am here. You are here. We are not alone.

     

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/coronavirus/go-outside-and-howl-at-8-pm-denverites-come-together-to-howl-as-they-practice-social-distancing

Lockdown.

Lockdown Yes there is fear. Yes there is isolation. Yes there is panic buying. Yes there is sickness. Yes there is even death. But, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise You can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet The sky is no longer thick with fumes But blue and grey and clear. They say that in the streets of Assisi People are singing to each other across the empty squares, keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them. They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number through the neighbourhood So that the elders may have someone to call on. Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way All over the world people are waking up to a new reality To how big we really are. To how little control we really have. To what really matters. To Love. So we pray and we remember that Yes there is fear. But there does not have to be hate. Yes there is isolation. But there does not have to be loneliness. Yes there is panic buying. But there does not have to be meanness. Yes there is sickness. But there does not have to be disease of the soul Yes there is even death. But there can always be a rebirth of love. Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now. Today, breathe. Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic The birds are singing again The sky is clearing, Spring is coming, And we are always encompassed by Love. Open the windows of your soul And though you may not be able to touch across the empty square, Sing. - Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM

To dance is human, to polka is divine.

     Life is a polka and don't you forget it.........Wally Lamb

Every day is a once in a lifetime experience!

     Venturing out for groceries. I have to figure out how to stop my glasses from steaming up with every exhalation......LOL.

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.” ― Dr. Seuss

     And sometimes we really do have to laugh.

“The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously. ” ― Henry Kissinger

     Excellent quote for these days

When we return to whatever is the new normal

No one is going to happy their way out of this, and that's OK

      I am a run-streaker and run every day.  Many days it is a super-slow jog of only a mile to keep the streak alive, more of a fast walk really, but it gives me purpose and a very minimum level of fitness.

      More and more people are streaking due to stay-at-home restrictions.  I read an article about this today and there were a couple of good quotes I identify with. Actually I identify with the entire article....maybe you will, too....see link below.

It’s a tough time for all of us —  some much tougher than others — but running every day is the key to keeping my sanity.


“No one is going to ‘happy’ their way out of this, and that’s OK,” says Boulder-based running coach David Roche, and co-author of “The Happy Runner: Love the Process, Get Faster, Run Longer.” “We can hopefully find the daily beauty in every little thing we have to do and that we like to do, and that includes running. If we’re forced to run inside or run around back and forth in a small area near our home, there’s so much gratitude to be found in those processes. Just the act of doing it can be rich.” 

https://www.jackrabbit.com/info/blog/lets-go-streaking-why-running-is-good-for-the-soul?utm_campaign=475906_4.3.20%20Blog&utm_medium=email&utm_source=JackRabbit&bxid=228517527&dm_i=5EBJ,A77M,3S1X93,12BAL,1

     I read the Covid 19 headlines in the AM, and then the updates in the PM.  Even that is too much.

"There is some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for." --J.R.R. Tolkien.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ― Mahatma Gandhi